Millions
of people are expected to make travel plans to see the first coast-to-coast
solar eclipse visible in this country in 99 years. If
you are planning to view the eclipse, please remember to do so safely!
Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality. The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun.
o
Always inspect your
solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow
any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
o
Always supervise
children using solar filters.
o
Stand still and cover
your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright
sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove
it while looking at the sun.
o
Do not look at the
uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope,
binoculars, or other optical device.
o
Similarly, do not look
at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical
device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the
concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing
serious injury.
o
Seek expert advice from
an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope,
binoculars, or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be
attached to the front of any telescope,
binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.
o
If you are within the
path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers
the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality,
then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to
look at the remaining partial phases.
o
Outside the path of
totality, you must always use a
safe solar filter to view the sun directly.
o If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on.
Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of
them.
For more information about the 2017 Eclipse, visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov/
If you're traveling to view the eclipse, you can check out some highway safety tips from the Red Cross here.
Julie Kirk is a Louisville Area Chapter volunteer that
helps out as a Blood Services Scheduling Specialist. Usually you are only asked
to volunteer about 4 hours out of every month, but Julie has done so much more
and has averaged about 10 hours a month since being here. 
