Your parents always told you to never look directly at the sun. But with an eclipse set for Sunday, there are some tips on how to safely view the sun without putting your eyes in danger.
Between 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., a partial eclipse of the sun is expected. In this type of eclipse, the moon will come between earth and the sun.
Okanagan members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada say that if you have your own telescope, you should make sure it has the right type of specially coated filter so you can view the sun without harming your eyes.
Another option is special eclipse glasses, which have a film on them. Likewise, you can also wear number 14 welder’s glasses, which also have a special material that protects the eyes.
If all else fails, you can always make your own pinhole camera out of paper or cardboard.
“If you do something like this, when the eclipse is in progress…you will see little crescents and they will change throughout the progress of the eclipse,” said Guy Mackie of the society as he demonstrated a pinhole camera.
“It is super important that people not go out and decide to look at this thing Sunday night by putting on sunglasses,” said Jim Tisdale, another society member. “Even if you put on five or six pairs, it just doesn’t work and they are going to end up burning their retinas.”
North Okanagan residents can watch the eclipse at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre. Central Okanagan residents are welcome to the Okanagan Observatory up Big White Road. South Okanagan residents are being encouraged to visit the Dominion Road Astro-Physical Observatory.
All events begin at 5 p.m. and will include free eclipse viewing glasses. If you need more information about the observatory parties and their locations, call 250-300-8SKY.
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