On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States. This will be the last eclipse visible from the connected 48 United States until 2044. Even though Lexington will only see 96% totality, it is still important to use proper safety measures when watching.
Remember: NEVER look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Even a brief glance during the eclipse can cause lifelong eye damage.
Solar Eclipse Safety
It is important to remember that specialized eclipse glasses or lenses are the only safe way to view the eclipse. Watching the eclipse without proper safety equipment can cause severe eye injury.
Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will
instantly cause severe eye injury.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and should comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if they are torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard them. Be sure to supervise children using solar viewers.
Here are some important safety guidelines to follow during a total solar eclipse.
- You can view the sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it is safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.
- As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun.
- Remember: Lexington will NOT see totality. Keep your glasses on!
Skin Safety
Even during a partial or annular eclipse or during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the sun will be very bright. If you are watching an entire eclipse, you may be in direct sunlight for hours. Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage.
You can find more information on solar eclipse safety from NASA.
Not watching the eclipse in Lexington? Check out this interactive map for information on when the eclipse will happen near you!
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