Current:Home > FinanceHow to safely watch the total solar eclipse: You will need glasses -Wealth Momentum Network
How to safely watch the total solar eclipse: You will need glasses
View
Date:2025-04-14 17:19:14
For the first time in six years, a total solar eclipse will be visible for hundreds of millions of people across parts of the continental United States on April 8.
The 115-mile-wide path of the eclipse − which happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking the face of the sun − begins over the South Pacific Ocean, and then will pass over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., the eclipse is set to cross from Texas to Maine, according to NASA's solar eclipse website.
The last time Americans witnessed a total solar eclipse, the sky darkened as if it were night, and the year was 2017. The next opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse is the U.S. is not until 2044.
If you plan to check out the eclipse, you are going to need protective eyewear. Here's what to know about safely watching the total solar eclipse without damaging your eyes:
Watching from national parks:You can see the total solar eclipse from national parks, but their skies offer much more
Can I look directly at the eclipse?
No. Do not look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse without specialized eye protection, NASA experts say. You could permanently damage your eyes or lose vision forever.
When watching the phenomenon, always observe with approved solar viewing glasses (AKA eclipse glasses) or a handheld solar viewer.
"Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun," according to NASA.
A total solar eclipse can only be viewed without protective eyewear during totality − when the sun is completely covered by the moon.
How long can you look at the eclipse without glasses?
You can view the total solar eclipse for a very short period of time without protective glasses. According to the U.S. space agency, the sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye only during the few brief seconds or minutes of a total solar eclipse – during totality.
"You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer," NASA wrote on its website.
Explore these interactive maps to find the path of totality and duration of totality in those cities.
Where to buy eclipse glasses and how to know if they are safe
The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved solar-eclipse glasses suppliers.
To see the list click here.
According to space.com, ISO-approved glasses must meet the following requirements:
- Both the right and left eye must be covered.
- No more than 0.00032% of sunlight may be transmitted through the filters.
- Filters must be free of defects including scratches, bubbles, and dents.
- The product labels must include the manufacturer name, instructions for safe use and warnings of any dangers of improper use.
Can you use cameras, binoculars or telescope to look at the eclipse?
No. Do not use cameras, binoculars, or telescopes to look at the sun.
Capturing the eclipse:What to know about viewing and recording the solar eclipse with your cellphone camera
You can use a special solar protector on the front of those objects, but NASA recommends seeking advice from experts like an astronomer before using one.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- U.S., European heat waves 'virtually impossible' without climate change, new study finds
- Don’t Gut Coal Ash Rules, Communities Beg EPA at Hearing
- Inside Jeff Bezos' Mysterious Private World: A Dating Flow Chart, That Booming Laugh and Many Billions
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Opioids are overrated for some common back pain, a study suggests
- Proof Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Latest Date Night Was Hella Good
- In Texas, a rare program offers hope for some of the most vulnerable women and babies
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Titan sub implosion highlights extreme tourism boom, but adventure can bring peril
Ranking
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Oil Pipelines or Climate Action? Trudeau Walks a Political Tightrope in Canada
- American Climate Video: Giant Chunks of Ice Washed Across His Family’s Cattle Ranch
- Many LGBTQ+ women face discrimination and violence, but find support in friendships
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Controversial Enbridge Line 3 Oil Pipeline Approved in Minnesota Wild Rice Region
- Shop the Best lululemon Deals During Memorial Day Weekend: $39 Sports Bras, $29 Tops & More on Sale
- Wind Takes Center Stage in Vermont Governor’s Race
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Inside the Love Lives of the Stars of Succession
Keep Up With Khloé Kardashian's Style and Shop 70% Off Good American Deals This Memorial Day Weekend
New federal rules will limit miners' exposure to deadly disease-causing dust
Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
What heat dome? They're still skiing in Colorado
Canada's record wildfire season continues to hammer U.S. air quality
These kids revamped their schoolyard. It could be a model to make cities healthier