The Solar Eclipse: Be sure to view it safely on April 8, 2024
Posted By RichC on April 7, 2024
Graphic at: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
On April 8, 2024, much of North America will experience a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse (vs lunar eclipse) is an alignment of Sun, Moon, and Earth, verse the Sun, Earth and Moon. On Monday, the moon’s shadow path will make landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast, cross the United States from Texas to Maine, and exit North America via Newfoundland, Canada, continuing into the Atlantic Ocean.
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun; they transmit far more sunlight than is safe for our eyes. See our Suppliers of Safe Solar Viewers & Filters page for sources of solar viewers verified to be compliant with the transmittance requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.
Tidbit: For those like me who plan on using a welding mask: 
Even with a shade 14 rating, you should not stare at the sun for too long, and the helmet is only safe when viewing the sun in its totally eclipsed state. A partially eclipsed sun is still too bright for the helmet to protect you, and the damage to your eyes might not be immediate or noticeable.
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