NASA has issued a health alert as a solar eclipse is set to plunge millions into darkness. Many in the US are expected to travel to see a total eclipse of the sun on April 8 – but experts are advising caution when viewing.
The amazing event will cross twelve states next Monday afternoon, starting from Texas and ending in Maine. It’s estimated that 215 million US adults (that’s 88% of all US adults) watched the last solar eclipse in 2017, either directly or on screens.
The full total solar eclipse will make it completely dark at midday for people along a narrow path. But don’t worry if you’re not in that path – you can still see the moon pass in front of the sun.
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As different states announce their viewing conditions for the big day, eye experts have warned that potential damage may not be “worth the risk”.
According to Health News Florida, the sun’s bright rays – even when in solar form – can burn the cells in the retina that don’t have pain receptors so can’t feel the damage as it happens. The only safe way to reportedly view the solar event is with licensed ‘eclipse’ sunglasses.
“Please, please put those glasses on,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.
After the 2017 eclipse, a woman who viewed the event without the right eye protection in New York started complaining of a black spot in her vision. Doctors found retinal damage in the shape of a “crescent” – which matched the shape of the eclipse.
“The dark spot she was describing was in the shape of a crescent,” said Dr Avnish Deobhakta, an eye expert at Mount Sinai.
Even though there’s no exact time for how long it takes to hurt your eyes, doctors warn that even a quick peek at a solar eclipse can be dangerous. After the 2017 solar eclipse, eye doctors in the US had lots of extra people needing help, says Florida Health News.
Some places are better than others if you want to safely watch the solar eclipse.
But it’s not looking good for Texas, as the weather folks in Dallas say there’s only a 15% chance of good weather for watching the eclipse. Meteorologist Marc Chenard told USA Today that clouds will probably cover the sky in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
And weather forecaster Matt Lanza thinks New York is the top spot to see the solar eclipse right now. “If I’m picking a place right now, it’s probably like Watertown, New York,” he said on his blog The Eyewall.
