It’s here! Today, April 8 is a special day for once-in-a-lifetime sky viewing of the solar eclipse. But you can’t just run out and gawk at the sky. You need to take special precautions to make sure you, your eyes, and your smartphone are safe.
20% Eclipse in Seattle
Seattle will be lucky enough to see some of the eclipse. We should be able to see the moon covering about 20% the sun. However, this will only be if the skies are clear, so let’s all keep a watchful eye on that weather forecast today. Check the exact time and date for eclipse viewing here.
Where to View
Of course, you can just step outside your home. However, you could head to a cool and informative viewing party at the University of Washington thrown by the Department of Astronomy. It goes from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. You can watch the eclipse from the courtyard at UW. Plus, the Astronomy Department and the Seattle Astronomical Society will have multiple telescopes available and lots of eclipse glasses to pass around for maximum viewing safety. You can get more information on the University of Washington Department of Astronomy’s website here.
Precautions to Take
Remember to take all eclipse viewing warnings seriously. Direct sun gazing at the eclipse even for a few seconds can cause very serious damage to your eyes. The last thing you want is to have permanent eye damage from looking at this amazing astronomical phenomenon. So grab a pair of special eclipse glasses or a pair of glasses with solar filters online. They should come with a certification that includes the ISO number 12312-2 international standard. Check your glasses’ safety on the American Astronomical Society’s website here. And read more about eclipse viewing safety here on NASA’s website.
Plus, you need to take special caution with your smartphone. Believe it or not, the eclipse can damage your smartphone as well. You need ISO-certified camera filters to fully protect your smartphone. It’s the same ISO 12312-2 international standard number. You can read even more on smartphone camera safety on the American Astronomical Society’s website here.
Here are more beautiful sights to see around Seattle that don’t require special glasses.