On Monday August 21, 2017, people across the United States will be able to see the sun completely disappear behind the moon, in a solar eclipse. Nashville is in the direct path of this total solar eclipse. Here are some guidelines when viewing this solar eclipse.
- Appropriate solar viewing glasses (easily available online) must meet all of the following criteria:
- Meet the designated ISO 12312-2 international standard
- Have the manufacturer’s name and address printed somewhere on the product
- They must NOT be older than 3 years, have a scratched or wrinkled lens.
- DO NOT use regular sunglasses to view the eclipse. Even very dark lenses will not protect your eyes while viewing the sun directly.
- NEVER view a partial solar eclipse without appropriate solar viewing eye protection.
- DO NOT view partial, annular or partial phases of a total solar eclipse without proper eye protection. Even when 99% of the sun is obscured, the remaining visible photospheric crescent is intense in brightness and can cause retinal damage when viewed without proper eye protection.
- More information about how to recognize the moments just prior to the beginning and end of totality (so you know when to take your safety glasses off and put them back on) can be seen at: https://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse
- Solar viewing eye protection SHOULD NOT BE USED with telescopes or binoculars. They WILL NOT protect your eyes from the energy concentrated by the high powered lenses.
- The eclipse can be viewed safely using an indirect method known as the “pinhole” technique. An explanation of how to do this can be seen at:
