Solar Eclipse
On Monday, April 8th, as the moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the Sun, parts of Ontario will experience a total solar eclipse. The temporary darkness is expected to start just minutes after 2:00 pm and last for about two and a half hours. The sun will be fully eclipsed at approximately 3:20 to 3:25 pm. The specific time and duration of the eclipse will depend on your location. Areas outside the path of totality will observe a partial solar eclipse. Use the advice below to stay safe during the celestial event.
IMPORTANT:
Looking directly at the Sun, without appropriate protection, can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight. There are no pain sensors in your retinas to tell you that your eyes are being damaged. Once symptoms begin to appear 12 to 48 hours later, the damage is most likely too late to reverse. If you will be watching the eclipse with children, supervise them to ensure they do not look at the eclipse without proper eye protection.
When looking for eye protection:
– Make sure it meets the ISO 12312-2:2015 safety standard and that it has the manufacturer’s name and date of production on it.
– Ensure that eclipse glasses fully cover your field of vision.
– Put on glasses when looking away from the sun, then look at the eclipse. Look away from the sun before taking the glasses off.
– Do not use a viewer if it has scratched or wrinkled lenses.
– Do not use regular sunglasses, cameras, phones, binoculars, or telescopes to watch the eclipse, as they do not provide adequate protection.
– Do not use homemade filters.
Alternative ways to watch the eclipse
If you don’t have the required eye protection, you can watch the eclipse through a livestream. Livestreams of the eclipse, such as the one hosted by NASA on YouTube, are a safe way to view the eclipse without the risk of injury from misusing equipment.
Take extra care if driving during the eclipse
From about 2 pm to 4:30 pm, the eclipse will affect daylight as it progresses. Exact times will depend on the viewer’s precise location. The following traffic safety measures are recommended:
– Don’t stop on the shoulder of the road.
– Don’t take photographs while driving.
– Turn on your headlights.
– Watch out for pedestrians.
If you are experiencing blurred vision, or loss of vision after viewing the eclipse, please contact your health care provider or Health811.