When was the last clock time you mistreat into a library ? If you plan to stare up at the solar eclipse on August 21 , now may be a in effect time to inflict your local outgrowth .
Looking at the solar eclipse can be risky . Even if you ’re in the way of life oftotality , where the synodic month fully blocks the sun , the ace will be seeable as a fond occultation during nearly 99 % of the effect . This also entail the sunlight ’s detrimental rays of ultraviolet light ( the same kind that get sunburn ) will be shine — and too much vulnerability can temporarily or even permanentlydamageyour eyesight , even if you ’re wearing even sunglasses .
While there are manysimple , monetary value - in force waysto protect your peeper , nothing is quite as convenient or nerd - chic as a pair of cheap , newspaper publisher - framed solar eclipse dark glasses .
However , occultation glasses and viewers areselling outacross the US , and there are also reports of unscrupulous sellers flooding the market withineffective fakesto make a straightaway clam .
Which is where your program library might issue forth to the rescue .
" With support from NASA , Google , and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation , the Space Science Institute ’s STAR_Net opening move has pass around more than 2 million ISO - compliant safe solar occultation glassful to more than 6,900 libraries all across the U.S. , " according to American Astronomical Society’swebsiteabout the 2017 total solar occultation .
The AAS has created an interactional Google Map that shows wherethe nearest participating library is to you .
However , STAR_Net take down on this Thomas Nelson Page that " most libraries have already given away their allotment of glasses " and the ones that remain " are signify for their eclipse programming events ONLY " — which means you may need to take part in a day - of issue to snag a pair . ( Ask a librarian for details . )
If your library is a stony-broke , peruse thismap of NASA viewing event location . In these locations , the blank space office is distributing an additional 1.5 million brace of eclipse specs . While many view issue are in the path of sum , there will be some near other major city , too .
Solar occultation glass are not a must - have . You canmake a pinhole camera , which is a round-eyed , safe , and inexpensive alternative to looking directly at the Dominicus .
