Coming soon: A bite from the Sun

It's true: I'm getting excited because my head is in the stars.

Well . . . in this case, it's focused on just one star: our Sun.

Because I know of the advantages of early preparation, I've been busy organizing things for two upcoming eclipses of the Sun. Make no mistake: my stellar wife Amy has been doing more than her share.


End of the total solar eclipse in 2017, Nashville. Photo by Mike Manolas.

Solar eclipses are fabulous, fleeting events! They're fairly rare, but I suspect what many people might like most is they don't have to stay up late at night to see them.

First up, we have an annular eclipse of the Sun on Oct.14 this year (BTW, annular does NOT mean once a year). Here along the Gulf Coast of Florida, about 60 percent of the Sun will be covered when the Moon moves in front of our local star. Of course, we will have proper eye protection, because as everyone knows -- well, perhaps with the exception of a former, uh, president -- people NEVER should look at the Sun!

Here is a link that illustrates what I'll be able to see on that date, weather permitting, of course. This link can be bookmarked in your browser then adjusted to your location:

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@28.060571,-82.770948

If that's not enough to quench my astronomical thirsts, there is a much-anticipated total eclipse of the Sun on April 8, 2024. I've seen two total eclipses of the Sun (1998 and 2017), and they are far more exciting than just seeing the Moon completely block out the Sun for several minutes. A total eclipse will spark nearly all of your senses.

This link should help everyone start to prepare for the biggest solar event since the total eclipse of the Sun in August, 2017. Oh, Amy and I were in Nashville at that time.

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024

So indeed, with my lovely wife's help and insistence (she is so smart and pretty!), we will be in Arkansas with high hopes to see this total eclipse. Of course, since I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist -- I prefer being labeled a realist -- I understand that an early spring sky event runs the risk of clouds, rain, snow in some places, and even tornadoes in other states. Such as Arkansas.

Sorry. I'm rambling on. So what have I done to prepare?

Well, I already have plenty of solar eclipse glasses. They have Mylar lenses and paper/cardboard frames that easily fit on the face. They produce a nice bluish-white view, but with no magnification. Yes, I had some, but I went ahead and bought more. Imagine me doing that!

I also have several glass welders' filters that easily can be held in front of the eyes before looking at the Sun. A great orangish view. I remember when I bought them from a store in Pittsburgh's West End; the store employee asked my why I'd want a #14 welders' filters. "Are you going to look at the Sun?" he asked with a chuckle. "Yes," I said!

At home, I have a 90mm refracting telescope equipped with a solar filter, but I will not be taking that telescope to Arkansas. Too bulky for an airplane. Instead, we'll be using two sets of solar binoculars -- my older 8x42 binocs and my recently purchased Celestron EclipSmart Safe Solar Eclipse Binoculars. Reasonably priced 10x42s. I am very pleased with them -- I gave them a test run today. They give a light-blue image of the Sun. I easily saw two very large sunspots. Nice!



Our new solar binoculars! Amy and I will share!

The older binocs offer a light orange image, and yes, I was able to see the large sunspots.

So I think we're just about ready. I know I'll make some adjustments as the dates grow closer. And as my excitement grows.

But I truly think my overall message to you, my friends, is this: Prepare now. If you wait, you will find those things you want to order are, well, out of stock.

Don't forget: If you plan to travel, book your flights and accommodations, and plan your routes, as soon as possible.

Above all, you need to have proper safe eye protection for these eclipses. You can't use smoked glass or other silly options. Don't trump your eyesight. In less than a second, the Sun's intense light can cause you to lose your vision or cause permanent eye damage.

By all means, just keep your focus on being solar safe. You'll look forward to many more astronomical events.


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