In case you didn’t hear, a solar eclipse is arriving next week. The moon will be passing directly in front of the sun and blot it out, turning the entire United States dark.
The eclipse will mark the first time that an event of this magnitude can be seen across the entire country in over 99 years. While it will be a special occasion for all, there are some serious issues that can arise by looking directly at the eclipse.
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Looking at the eclipse is a health hazard that doctors are saying could have permanent effects. If you will be tuning in next week, keep scrolling to learn exactly what could happen.
How the Eclipse Can Damage Your Eyesight
One of the biggest risks of a watching the solar eclipse is the damage to your eyes.
“Depending on the sky conditions, it only takes about a minute and a half for your eyes to be permanently damaged, and the damage is cumulative, meaning you don’t have to stare at the sun without looking away for it to be harmful — you may just be taking quick glances, but it’s still damaging your eye,” an optometrist said while speaking with the Washington Post.
Dr. Todd Peabody, a clinical associate professor at the Indiana University School of Optometry, also shared his what exactly happens when looking at an eclipse, warning those that wearing sunglasses might actually make the damage to their eyes worse.
“Sunglasses are particularly dangerous because when you wear sunglasses, it limits the amount of light that gets into your eye,” Peabody said. “It causes your pupil to dilate, which allows more radiation to get in. Sunglasses might actually make (damage) worse.”
Further, you may want to think twice before pulling out your camera to snap a shot of the eclipse…
How the Eclipse Can Damage Your Camera
Much like the human eye is sensitive to the sun’s powerful rays, many cameras experience the same sensitivity. Without the proper filters and equipment, the cameras could sustain damage.
For those looking to photograph the eclipse, there are types of gear that you can buy. Nikon offers a guide to taking pictures of eclipses, and there are a slew of tutorials available on YouTube.
Anyone hoping to be able to snap a quality shot of the eclipse might want to consider using a high quality camera, if available. Taking pictures of the sun is a tricky task for any camera, but especially for the camera on your phone.
“The typical lens on a phone is about 28mm,” Nikon ambassador Lucas Gilman says. “And you’re going to need a longer lens to photograph this thing. Typically the camera [on a phone] is at a fixed length, and when you zoom in you’re just cropping pixels, not really zooming in. Your picture is just going to be a teeny blob off in the middle of nowhere and not properly developed.”
Could the Eclipse Lead to Wildfires?
The eclipse will be making landfall first in Oregon. Due to this fact, the state is a prime location for avid spectators, but there is one looming issue: Oregon is also in the midst of wildfire season.
There are multiple wildfires burning right now and it’s possible that careless visitors could accidentally cause further fires in these dry conditions.
“With human-caused fires up 10 percent this year, we are hoping to educate and engage with folks to prevent the fires we can,” said Ron Graham of the Oregon Department of Forestry.
“Common causes are campfires, tossing a cigarette out a window or even idling a hot vehicle over dry grass. One thing these all have in common is, they are all preventable.”
Expect Traffic During the Eclipse
Given that it is a once in a lifetime type event, motorists are more than likely going to be quite distracted.
The Federal Highway Administration is calling it “one of the largest driver distractions in years.”
Martin Knopp, the associate administrator for operations at FHWA, said in a recent briefing that event watchers need to be well prepared and take time into consideration.
“We encourage travelers, we want to be excited about this, but be prepared. It’s not a time to just show up and at the spur of the moment drive for a few minutes with your head out the window looking up at the sky. It’s not time to pull over and be on the side of the road.”
This should go without saying, but the FHWA is also warning people not to look at the eclipse while driving. For those wanting to view the eclipse, the proper eyewear and a safe location are important for a safe experience.
Solar Eclipse 2017 Quick Facts
The eclipse will be happening on Aug. 21, in the morning and early afternoon, lasting for just a few minutes. The longest duration will occur in Illinois, where it will last for two minutes and 40 seconds, according to Independent.
As to where it will happen, the “path of totality will arrive in the north west, arriving first at Lincoln County in Oregon at 9:05 a.m. Pacific daylight time. It will then spread across the US, going east more quickly than it goes south, and will leave the US at Charleston, South Carolina, at 2:43 p.m. local time.”
For those living in cities like San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles, California, the moon will be blocking around 60 percent to 70 percent of the sun, according to Business Insider.
Photo Credit: Twitter / @CNN
