Viewing the April 8 solar eclipse requires special eye protection, except during the 4 minutes or so of totality.
Wear eclipse glasses or hold solar viewers during the partial phases of the eclipse to prevent the bright sun from damaging retinal cells in the eyes. Even a quick glance could result in permanent eye damage.
The retina does not have pain receptors, so there will be no warning the sun is causing damage. Possible results are blurred vision, dark or yellow spots, pain in bright light, or loss of vision in the center of the eye.
Eclipse glasses — sunglasses, even the darkest sunglasses, are not enough — should be marked as meeting ISO 12312-2 specifications. They are available online, from local stores and organizations and at the Old National Road Welcome Center, 5701 National Road E., Richmond, where they cost $2.
Eclipse glasses should be worn in front of regular eyeglasses and should not be used if they are scratched, wrinkled or otherwise damaged. As a test, put on the eclipse glasses and look at lights. No light should be visible through the glasses. If any light is visible, do not wear the glasses when viewing the sun.
In addition, Primex Plastics is manufacturing single and two-person viewers. They are available online at www.primexplastics.com/shop, in some local locations and at the Welcome Center, costing $29.99 for the single and $35.99 for the two-person.
Do not look through cellphones, cameras, binoculars or telescopes while wearing eclipse glasses or using viewers; the protection is not enough. They require special solar filters placed in front of their optics. When looking through devices with the proper solar filters, eclipse glasses are not necessary. Filters are available at the Welcome Center.
Use the eclipse protection — glasses, viewers or filters — whenever looking at the sun before or after the approximately four minutes of totality. It will be safe to take off eclipse glasses when no part of the sun is visible through them. As soon as even a little bit of bright sun reappears, glasses and viewers are again necessary.
Pinhole projector
There are also indirect methods, including pinhole projectors, to watch a solar eclipse.
Making a simple pinhole projector requires two pieces of white card stock, aluminum foil and tape. Cut a small rectangle measuring 1 to 2 inches in the middle of a card stock piece, then tape some aluminum foil over that hole. Use a pin, paper clip or pencil to punch a small hole in the aluminum foil.
To view the eclipse, do not look through the hole at the sun. Instead, put the uncut card stock on the ground and hold the cut piece above it with the foil side facing toward the sun. An image showing the crescent sun as the moon covers it will be visible on the uncut paper.
Other precautions
The entire eclipse will take about 2 1/2 hours, and if you can see the eclipse, you’ll be in sunlight. Therefore, remember sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing to prevent sunburn and skin damage.
A list of viewing sites is available at WayneCountySolarEclipse.com. Some offer entertainment before and/or after the eclipse. Travel should be limited during the eclipse time frame. Plan to arrive early at a viewing site, and do not pull to the side of a road or enter private property to view the eclipse.
Traffic jams are expected, so prepare for time in the car by remembering food, water and charging cables, and fill vehicles in advance with fuel and other fluids.
Find a place to watch the eclipse without travel by noting the sun’s position about 3 p.m. before April 8. A clear view will ensure you can see the eclipse; however, it’s important to consider lights that automatically turn on at dusk. During the eclipse’s totality, the darkness will activate those lights, which could spoil the view.
Complete information about the eclipse and related activities is available online at WayneCountySolarEclipse.com and at the Welcome Center. An eclipse hot line provides information by calling 765-935-8687 and asking about the eclipse.
Eclipse Notebook
Western Wayne News plans to share information with readers to help them prepare for changes, added visitors and activities around the county leading up to the April 8 total solar eclipse.
1 town’s trash pickup moved earlier
All of Cambridge City’s Rumpke trash pickup customers will need to have their trash out by Sunday night (April 7) instead of early Monday, April 8, as usual.
Because of anticipated traffic for the eclipse, pickups will begin at midnight instead of Monday morning as normal, said Sherry Ervin, the town’s clerk-treasurer.
Those with questions can call Rumpke at 800-828-8171 or visit rumpke.com.
At its March 4 meeting, Cambridge City council also voted to pay Rumpke for daily trash pickups at three town dumpsters during the eclipse weekend, anticipating increased need.
RVs to be allowed in Creitz Park
Cambridge City’s council approved waiving Creitz Park rules to allow recreational vehicles to park between 8 a.m. April 5-8 a.m. April 9.
Customers will pay $200 before April 3 or $300 after for a numbered site and must follow a list of other rules such as no open burning and no alcohol.
Cambridge City Main Street and the town will split rental proceeds after expenses such as portable toilets and trash disposal.
A contingency plan for parking on harder surfaces is being determined in case the ground is determined to be too soggy for the large vehicles and prone to expensive damage.
The vote at the March 4 meeting was 4-1. Councilor Gary Cole voted no to the temporary usage.
For more information, email tdlewis1970@gmail.com or call 812-327-7391.
Parade entries sought
Brightly colored and lit floats are sought for the Hagerstown Eclipse Night Parade, which starts at about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, April 7, on Main Street.
Businesses, groups or clubs can register their floats at https://form.jotform.com/233113228550143.
Share news about how the eclipse will affect your community or organization as soon as possible.
A version of this article appeared in the March 13 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.