No matter how excited you are, don’t be tempted to stare at Monday’s eclipse.
It can burn the retina and leave you blind.
“Never look at the sun without certified solar viewing glasses,” said Adam Rengstrof, PNW astronomer. “If you are outside the path of totality, you will be seeing a partial solar eclipse and the glasses must stay on at all times. If you are in the path of totality, it is safe to remove the glasses only during totality.”
Sunglasses alone do not offer sufficient eye protection. PNW will hand out certified solar viewing glasses at its eclipse watch events.
And the American Astronomical Society warns that counterfeit viewing glasses are being sold in the U.S. The organization’s website says the fake glasses offer no more protection than regular sunglasses.
The society offers tips on how to photograph the eclipse on its website, eclipse.aase.org.
