Weather Tidbits: Solar Eclipse & Viewing Safety

This Weather Tidbits will discuss what a solar eclipse is and provide safety tips when viewing a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow is casted onto Earth by the Sun as the moon passes between the two. A solar eclipse only happens occasionally because the Moon’s orbit around the Earth is at a slight tilt. This makes it harder for the Sun, Moon, and Earth to be in perfect alignment for a solar eclipse and thus makes the rare times that a solar eclipse does occur very special!

The moon’s shadow during a solar eclipse is divided into the penumbra and the umbra. The umbra is the darkest part of the moon’s shadow and where the path of complete totality lies. The penumbra is brighter part of the moon’s shadow and is where a partial eclipse is observed. Totality cannot be found within the penumbra.

When viewing a solar eclipse, it’s important to keep note of a few safety tips. Regular sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes when looking at the solar eclipse. You must wear appropriate solar filtered eye care. This includes specialized solar eclipse glasses. Make sure the solar eclipse glasses are approved by the American Astronomical Society and meet ALL requirements the ISO 12312-2 standards. Lastly, the solar eclipse glasses must not be damaged in anyway. Make sure they are in proper condition. Anything less will cause serious eye damage.