The best visibility in the U.S. will be in the Northeastern region, including major cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, New Jersey, and Boston. Observers in these areas should have a clear view of the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun.
Protecting Your Eyes
Even though this is only a partial eclipse, proper eye protection is essential at all times.
Unlike a total solar eclipse, where viewers can briefly look at the sun without protection during totality, a partial eclipse never provides a safe moment to do so. Viewing the sun without protection, even for a few seconds, can lead to serious eye damage or “eclipse blindness.”
The American Optometric Association warns that prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays during an eclipse can damage the retina.
NASA also strongly advises against looking at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any optical device, even while wearing eclipse glasses, as concentrated solar rays can burn through filters and cause severe eye injury.
A Must-See Astronomical Event
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) maintains a list of approved vendors that sell ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses that meet international safety standards (ISO 12312-2). Unlike regular sunglasses, these glasses are thousands of times darker and specifically designed for solar viewing.
