Preparing for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Safety Tips and Viewing Guides

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will traverse North America, affecting areas in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This rare astronomical event promises to be a spectacle, but it also comes with significant safety concerns that must be addressed to ensure viewers can enjoy it without risking their eye health.

The eclipse is expected to begin around 10 a.m., peak at 11:11 a.m., and end by 12:23 p.m. While some regions will experience a total eclipse, areas like San Diego County will see a partial eclipse. It is crucial to emphasize that viewing any part of the sun’s surface directly without proper filters can cause severe eye injury, including during partial eclipses.

To view the eclipse safely, several guidelines have been issued by NASA, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Astronomical Association. Viewers should use eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet international safety standards. Regular sunglasses, even those with UV protection, are not safe for viewing the eclipse. Additionally, telescopes, binoculars, and camera viewfinders must be equipped with solar filters to prevent eye damage.

Alternative safe viewing methods include using a pinhole viewer, which can be as simple as a small hole in an index card that projects the sun’s image onto a sheet of paper. Watching the NASA livestream or other registered livestreams is also a safe option.

Various resources are available to support educators and families. The National Science Teaching Association offers teaching resources and lesson plans, while the American Astronomical Society, in partnership with NASA, provides safety flyers in multiple languages. Local events, such as viewing parties at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, and free viewing glasses from locations like Warby Parker and the San Diego Library, are also being organized.