Total solar eclipse south of us Monday – about 84% here

Astronomy Magazine has been alerting readers to “Get Ready for the Eclipse” for months; included in those alerts, as illustrated below, have been offers for the proper eclipse-viewing protective eye-wear. Photos/Roger Bianchini

If you look — the stern advice by eye doctors is not to, unless you have the correct, approved protective eye-wear – you will see a partial solar eclipse from anywhere in the Valley between about 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21.

This is a rare occurrence, but this newspaper feels obliged to warn of the permanent danger to eyesight caused by staring, or even glancing, as the moon crosses in front of the sun this coming Monday afternoon.

In Front Royal, the Samuels’ Public Library distributed about 200 pairs of approved glasses. With demand picking up about two weeks prior to the solar event, one exasperated librarian exclaimed that she “wished we’d ordered 2,000.”

Even if you’ve had the foresight (no pun intended) to get approved glasses, prolonged observation is not recommended.  According to the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, permanent retina damage and total blindness have been caused by past eclipses.  Fortunately, there are not many of them; but to some a near total eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed.

Also, perhaps fortunately as well, schools in Warren County began earlier this year, and our kids will, or should, be in their classrooms during the afternoon hours.  While the option of an outside look under tight supervision, with access to proper protective eye-wear provided by teachers, science teachers particularly, MIGHT be an option, the safer course may be televised broadcast on a Science or the NASA station.

Even Bart Simpson is taking the advice – don’t peak, Bart!!!

But for those under their own supervision remember, ordinary sunglasses provide no protection.  The darkest (No. 14) welders’ glasses are an option, and if taking photographs of the eclipse you must use solar filters on camera lenses, telescopes and binoculars.

On Saturday, the American Astronomical Society warned against “fake” glasses, especially on “third party” websites. A spokesman was quoted as saying, “If you don’t have proper glasses, the infrared radiation can literally cook your retina.”

Hospitals across the country, particularly in the west, are gearing up, warning that even drivers, glancing up at the sky, could trigger eclipse-related traffic accidents.  Some local residents are reported to be traveling to South Carolina for the best views of the eclipse which starts in Oregon and moves west to east with a 70-mile wide strip experiencing total darkness.  The eastern path will pass directly over Charleston, S.C.

Locally, some who have planned ahead, way ahead, for the event, will be taking Route 66 to Chantilly and the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport for safe and supervised viewing.  In Washington, the National Air and Space Museum has solar telescopes set up for the general public, with eclipse-viewing glasses available.  Here in the Valley, a partial solar eclipse will begin just after 1 p.m. and will peak just before 3 p.m.  Our 80-something-percent view will gradually diminish and end by about 4 p.m.