Health officials talk eye safety for ‘ring of fire’ eclipse
As the Oct. 14 annular solar eclipse draws near, the New Mexico Department of Health is offering eye protection tips to those who plan to view the event. Solar eclipses occur when the moon moves between the Sun and the Earth.
“It is never safe to look at a partial solar eclipse without proper safety equipment or techniques,” the Department of Health said in a press release. “During the very brief time the sun is in a total solar eclipse it is safe to look at it, but people should do so with extreme caution as it does not last long.”
Saturday’s eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse over some parts of New Mexico and a partial solar eclipse elsewhere in the state.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers the center of the sun, leaving an annulus of sunlight — a ring of fire — around the moon. The Oct. 14 solar eclipse begins at 9:13 a.m. and ends at 12:09 p.m. Maximum annularity will occur at 10:36 a.m. The path of the annular eclipse travels over Albuquerque, where the ring of fire effect will last 5 seconds. The point of greatest eclipse will be visible off the coast of Nicaragua, where the ring of fire effect will last 5 minutes.
An interactive annularity path map created by Xavier Jubier is available online: xjubier.free.fr/ en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/ ASE_2023_GoogleMapFull. html?Lat=36.43385&Lng=105.58147&Elv=2152.0&Zoom=7& LC=1.
In Taos, sky watchers will witness more of a partial eclipse than a true ring of fire. The Navajo Nation, over some of which the ring of fire effect will be visible, announced last month that all of its parks will be closed on Oct. 14 between 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. due to Navajo tribal beliefs and cultural protocols regarding eclipses.
State Health Secretary Patrick Allen said eye protection is critical during the event.
“When it comes to witnessing the October 14 solar eclipse, choosing the right eye protection is nonnegotiable,” Allen said in the press release. “Ensure your safety with ISO 12312-2 labeled solar eclipse glasses, pinhole projection, or Number 14 welder’s glasses. Prioritize your eyesight, as ‘eclipse blindness’ is a silent danger.”
Exposing one’s eyes to the sun without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause eclipse blindness or retinal burns. The damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs with no pain; it can take a few hours to a few days after viewing a solar eclipse to realize that damage has occurred.
Symptoms include loss of central vision, distorted vision and altered color vision. If you notice symptoms after viewing a solar eclipse, seek treatment from an eye care professional immediately.
“The allure of a solar eclipse is undeniable, but so is the risk to our eyes,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the Department of Health. “It’s crucial to remember that partial eclipses demand proper eye protection. Even during a total eclipse, exercise extreme caution. Eclipse blindness is a real threat, and if you experience symptoms, seek immediate care
from an eye professional.”
Safe ways to view a solar eclipse:
Expert-approved solar eclipse glasses: Make sure they meet safety requirements and are labeled with the ISO 12312-2 standard.
• Pinhole projection: This helps you avoid looking directly at the eclipse by using a projected image. This is the safest and cheapest way to view a solar eclipse.
• Number 14 welder’s glasses: These can be found at local welder’s supply stores.
• Mylar filters: Plastic mylar sheets that can be cut and made into viewing boxes.
• If you are planning a gathering to view the solar eclipse, Prevent Blindness has a toolkit you can use to prepare.
These are some things you should not use to view a solar eclipse:
• Smartphones: Watching a solar eclipse on your smartphone camera can put you at risk of accidentally looking at the sun when trying to line up the camera. It could also damage your smartphone camera.
• Camera viewfinders: Your eyes can still be damaged in the same way as looking directly at the solar eclipse.
• Unsafe filters: Unless specifically designed for viewing a solar eclipse, no filter is safe to use with any optical device (telescopes, binoculars, etc.).
For more information, visit preventblindness.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on the upcoming annular eclipse, see this month’s Galaxy Watch column. Page C2.