Safe Solar Eclipse Viewing on Aug. 21

Safe Eclipse Viewing:  Monday Aug. 21, 10 to 11 a.m., at the top of the Craven Circle stairs

As you are probably aware, a solar eclipse is going to cross the United States on Monday, Aug 21. Although we are not in the path of totality here in San Marcos, we will get a partial eclipse. The partial eclipse will begin at 9:07 a.m., and eclipse “maximum” will be reached at 10:23 a.m. when 66 percent of the sun’s surface will be covered by the moon. The eclipse will end at 11:46 a.m.

Safety, Risk & Sustainability Services (SR&S) will have a table set up in the open area at the top of the Craven Circle stairs (between Starbucks and Craven Hall) from 10 to 11 a.m., with educational materials as well as safe “solar viewing glasses” that allow you to safely look directly at the eclipse!

If you can’t join us at the SR&S table, but you want to view the eclipse, please do not look directly at the sun (even briefly) unless you have the appropriate eye protection, such as approved solar viewers or solar glasses (with a mark indicating they meet “ISO 12312-2” safety requirements), or arc-welder's glass of shade level #13 or #14 (do not use lower numbers!).

It is NOT considered safe to look at the sun through smoked glass, stacked sunglasses, “crossed polarizing” shades, photographic neutral-density filters, X-ray film, mylar balloon or filters intended to block visible light for infrared photography. While these may greatly dim the sun's glare, thus giving the illusion of being a safe way to look at the sun, invisible ultraviolet or infrared radiation can get through, which can severely damage your eyes. (“Pinhole viewers” are intended to allow you to look at the shadow image of the eclipse on the ground, NOT to look at the sun itself.)

NEVER look through binoculars, a telescope or any other optical magnifying device that does not have a properly fitted and approved solar filter made for that device. NEVER look through an unfiltered telescope or binoculars while you are wearing (or holding) a solar filter/solar glasses. The concentrated sunlight can burn through the filter and severely damage your eyes before you even realize it.

If you would like more information on safely viewing the eclipse, check out NASA’s information page: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety