Marshall County Health Department is preparing for a huge event Aug. 21 when a once in a lifetime total solar eclipse will take place in the county and surrounding areas.
The department urges all residents to avoid looking directly at the sun once the eclipse starts; similarly, health department personnel remind viewers not to look at the sun through sunglasses during the event, either.
The preferred equipment is of course, eclipse glasses – made with special filters to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Be sure they meet international standards.
Once the eclipse is total – when the moon completely covers the sun, viewers can look at it with the naked eye, but only until it starts to move, then look away, and put back on the eclipse glasses.
Some important points:
- The partial eclipse before the total lasts for about an hour. Use safety measures during this time.
- The total eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun, can be seen unaided.
- Then safety measure are necessary to watch the partial eclipse after the total, which again, can last for about an hour.
- Do not look at the partial eclipse through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
- For more information on eclipse viewing, go to www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov
If planning to be part of the crowd witnessing this event, MCHD recommends an Eclipse Safety Kit:
In addition to safe viewing practices and glasses, include these items:
Sunscreen
Water
Hand sanitizers
Insect Repellent
Basic First Aid supplies like band-aids and antibiotic ointment