Staying Safe: UW Health Advises Caution During Solar Eclipse Viewing

April 8 is the date that millions of people around the world are eagerly awaiting the solar eclipse. However, experts at UW Health are urging spectators to take necessary precautions to protect their eyes during this event. Southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois will witness a partial eclipse, meaning it is unsafe to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.

If you’re planning on viewing the eclipse in person, doctors recommend using special eclipse glasses or a hand-held solar viewer that meet necessary safety standards. The American Astronomical Society provides a list of reputable companies selling approved solar glasses on their website. Additionally, using a special-purpose solar filter for camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes is recommended.

However, if you don’t have access to special equipment or prefer not to use it, creating a pinhole viewer is a safe way to project an image of the sun onto a surface like paper, a wall, or pavement. The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers a tutorial on their website for creating a pinhole viewer. If you can’t make it out in person to see the event live, both WIFR and Local News Live will be streaming continuous live coverage on April 8. NASA is also offering a livestream of the event for those who can’t be there in person.

For those who already have solar eclipse glasses, remember to ensure their safety by shining a flashlight through the lenses before using them for viewing the eclipse. If any light is visible through the lenses while shining them with light, they are not safe to use for viewing the eclipse.

In summary, while many people are excited about seeing the solar eclipse on April 8th, experts advise caution when looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Using specialized equipment such as eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers that meet necessary safety standards is recommended. Alternatively, creating your own pinhole viewer with instructions from reputable sources such as American Academy of Ophthalmology is another safe option if you prefer not to use specialized equipment or can’t access it in time.

Lastly, always take precautions when protecting your eyes and enjoy this unique astronomical event safely!