How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse
It is never safe to look directly at the sun's rays - even if the sun is partly obscured. When watching a partial eclipse you must wear eclipse glasses at all times if you want to face the sun, or use an alternate indirect method. This also applies during a total eclipse up until the time when the sun is completely and totally blocked. During the short time when the moon completely obscures the sun - known as the period of totality - it is safe to look directly at the star, but it's crucial that you know when to take off and put back on your glasses. First and foremost: Check for local information on timing of when the total eclipse will begin and end. NASA's page of eclipse times is a good place to start. Second: The sun also provides important clues for when totality is about to start and end. Learn more at ****** Find more videos about the solar ecilpse at ****** This video is public domain and along with other supporting visualizations can be downloaded from the Scientific Visualization Studio at: ****** If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: ****** Or subscribe to NASA’s Goddard Shorts HD Podcast: ****** Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center · Facebook: ****** · Twitter ****** · Flickr ****** · Instagram ****** · Google ******
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How to safely watch a total solar eclipse
If you're in the path of totality,
you'll have a chance to watch a total solar eclipse.
You'll need a pair of eclipse glasses or other indirect viewing method
to safely observe the sun.
Here's what you can expect to see if the sky is clear:
Sun's disk partially blocked by moon. Can last over an hour.
Only low-lying valleys on the moon's edge allow sunlight through
Sunlight streaming through the moon's valleys creates single bright flash of light
Marks the last few seconds before totality
Moon covers the entire disk of the sun. (Only visible within the path of totality. Don't take glasses off
elsewhere) May last under a minute in some locations
Crescent begins to peek out from behind the moon
Stop looking directly at the sun
