Partial Solar Eclipse coming this Saturday

By Gregg Wendorf
Advance News Journal

In case you haven’t already heard the news, there is a partial solar eclipse planned for this Saturday, Oct. 14, which will begin at approximately noon and end at approximately 2:30 p.m. According to NASA, approximately 54 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon.

Next April, the 8th, there will be a total solar eclipse, which we’ll write about later, but first we have to get through this one with no one suffering visual harm.

“Who’s dumb enough to look at a solar eclipse?” you ask.

If you don’t include the noon-day drunks — “Look at that there sun, Billy Bob, and pass me another brewskie, just don’t make it no Bud Light” — there are no legit studies that offer a percentage who fail to heed the warnings: “Don’t look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse (full or partial).”

The closest one can get is a 1976 study done in Turkey, but all that showed is that among the people reporting eye problems, approximately 10 percent suffered permanent visual loss to the extent that they were no longer able to read a license plate at 25 yards.

Then, sad to report, there is the case of eclipse-related eye damage (solar retinopathy) dating back to the late 1990s, out of Northern Ireland, where some lame brain actually looked at the solar eclipse for approximately 20 minutes without eye protection.

Our Brain Says ‘No’

According to the medical experts, our brains are hardwired to not look directly at very bright things like the sun. However, when the moon covers the sun in a partial manner, as will be the case this Saturday, or covers it completely, as will be the case next April, some people figure the moon’s coverage of the sun offers them protection from eye damage.

During these solar eclipses, however, some people realize they are seeing something special and essentially force themselves to look at it (Source: livescience.com).

Some people may underestimate the danger, thinking that the eclipse makes the sun safe to look at. Others may be curious or excited and forget about the risks. Still, others may simply not have access to safe viewing equipment.

Hence, the public-service warnings: Don’t look directly at the solar eclipse without adequate eye protection.

The McAllen Library hosted a drive-thru event last Saturday during which it handed out approximately 5,000 free solar-eclipse glasses. By approximately 1 p.m., though, so popular were the glasses, that the stock had run dry.

In an odd paradox, this Tuesday (Oct. 10), Amazon still had solar-eclipse glasses for sale, while most showed a free Sunday delivery (yeah, but the eclipse has already passed).

If you want to pay for delivery, which would arrive before this Saturday, you can still have solar glasses delivered by Oct. 11. Most sell for less than $20, and they make you wish you had some for sale, with most sellers reporting more than 60,000 pair sold in the past 30 days.

For those who refuse to buy from Amazon, for whatever reason, simply do an online search for solar glasses, and many other online vendors will pop up on the screen.

In a warning from NASA: “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”

Meaning, if you’re not using solar-eclipse glasses, don’t look at the sun directly or with anything other than those glasses that carry the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification. If you don’t want to buy online, some local optical stores may have some in stock, if they’re not already sold out.

If you are unable to obtain eclipse glasses, you can still view the solar eclipse safely by projecting it onto another surface. To do this, you will need a telescope or binoculars with a solar filter. You can also use a cardboard box and a piece of aluminum foil to create a simple projector. (You can find the how-to directions online or at your local library.)

By the way, we’ve heard of a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse. What’s the difference, you may ask?

A solar eclipse (like the one headed our way this Saturday and next April) occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, casting a shadow on earth.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon.

Obviously, you can stare at the moon with the naked eye during a lunar eclipse and suffer no harm.

The solar eclipse set for this Saturday will begin in Oregon and follow a southeast trail toward the Texas Gulf (Gulf of Mexico).

Solar eclipses occur in the U.S. every few years, but they are not always visible from all parts of the country. On average, there is a partial solar eclipse visible from somewhere in the U.S. every two years. Total solar eclipses are rarer, but they still occur about once every decade or so, which makes the one set for next April that much more special.

Ancient Beliefs

For our ancient ancestors, when natural phenomena were often ascribed to some supernatural source, a solar eclipse wasn’t science. It was more about the gods who were on a tear.

For example, in ancient China, people believed that solar eclipses were caused by a celestial dragon eating the sun. To scare the dragon away and save the sun, people would bang drums and pots, and make loud noises during eclipses.

In ancient Egypt, people believed that solar eclipses were caused by the goddess of the sky, Nut (interesting name), swallowing the sun. People would pray to Nut (“Dear Nut”) to release the sun and restore order to the world.

In ancient Greece, people believed that solar eclipses were caused by the goddess of the moon, Selene, passing in front of the sun. People would try to appease Selene by offering sacrifices.

The Maya civilization believed that solar eclipses were caused by two jaguars eating the sun. People would try to appease the jaguars by making offerings and sacrifices.

The ancient Jews believed that solar eclipses were a sign of God’s anger. They believed that God would cause the sun to darken to punish the people for their sins.

In the Bible, there are a few examples of solar eclipses that are associated with God’s anger. For example, in the book of Amos, the prophet predicts a solar eclipse that will occur as punishment for the people’s sins.

Here in the U.S., many Native American cultures had different beliefs about solar eclipses, but they often saw them as a sign of change or transformation. Some cultures believed that a solar eclipse is a time to seek spiritual guidance or to pray for good things to come. Others believed that it is a time to be careful and to avoid making big decisions.

South of the Rio Grande, down Mexico way, the Aztecs had a very complex and sophisticated understanding of astronomy, and they attached great importance to solar eclipses. They believed that a solar eclipse was a sign of great danger, and they would often take steps to appease the gods and prevent disaster.

One of the most common Aztec beliefs about solar eclipses was that they were caused by a giant jaguar eating the sun. To scare the jaguar away, the Aztecs would make loud noises and bang on drums. They would also sacrifice animals and even humans to appease the gods.

Final note: Enjoy the partial solar eclipse this Saturday (from approximately 12:30 to approximately 2:30 p.m.) in South Texas but protect your eyes.