A not-so-bright idea

Monday afternoon, to witness astronomical history, thousands will gather — at 2:44 here in New York — to stand on grass or dirt or pavement and crane their necks heavenward. Don’t forget to be there. And, unless you’ve got those special glasses, don’t forget not to look. If you do do the dumb thing and stare at the eclipse, the first total blockage of the sun by the moon since 1979 visible from the continental U.S., you will hurt your eyes. You may even hurt them so badly, you won’t be able to not see the next one.