How to Observe an Eclipse If You Forgot to Make an Eclipse Observation Plan
Today is the great eclipse of 2017. Unless you’ve somehow planned to watch a big event, but have decided that you want to, choosing the right location can be a little tricky. While most outdoor activities are something you can comfortably observe from your office or back porch, during an eclipse you might want to move.
Here are some tips on where to go for last minute eclipse plans:
Go outside
It may seem like an easy task, but the best eclipse experience will be outdoors rather than from your desk in the office (even if you have a lovely corner with many windows). Plan a short break before the eclipse is due to arrive in your area ( you can tell when it does ) and find a good spot.
Along the same lines: take the time right now to look through our large office windows and see what the weather looks like. If it is cloudy where you are, these clouds are likely to affect your ability to see the eclipse in action, and you will want to schedule a short break so you can travel beyond the clouds, or at least somewhere. … where during your eclipse (literally) there will be no rain.
Find an open area
Depending on where you are, the best “open area” will differ. Basically, you are looking for a place in your city where you can see as much of the sky as possible, without any obstruction from the trees and buildings. In San Francisco, I plan to go to Dolores Park. It’s a large open space, and in a city where buildings allow me to see the sky, none of them block my view (although the fog can handle it for me ).
In general, the parks here will make friends with you. It’s the same with soccer fields, really big backyards and rooftops that are taller than everyone else around them. Assess what options you have, and then make a plan for how to get to a place where you know you can see.
Also, keep in mind that if you’ve found the perfect spot, probably some other people have already thought of the spot. There is already a lot of traffic in the national parks this morning. If a park is in your plans, you might want to go there sooner rather than later.
Wear Eclipse glasses
Most likely, it is already too late for you to pick up a pair of glasses for the eclipse, and if you do not have them, you should never look at the eclipse. Go outside and enjoy the moments of darkness, make yourself a projector-end and watch the eclipse through it. Don’t look directly into the sun, even if you think you have great sunglasses.
Usually, your retina narrows when you look at bright light. During an eclipse, your retinas are more open as it is dark on the ground, so they can let in more light and you can see in that darkness. This means that when you look at the sun in this darkness, you expose your eyes to more light than they normally see and risk burning them. Since there are no pain sensors in your retina, you won’t even feel the damage done. Do not do this.
If you’ve gone to this rooftop or outdoor park and don’t have glasses or a projector, try watching shadows change through a tree, or listen to how nature (and those around you) reacts to moments of the night in the middle of the day.
When it can’t be outside
If it’s pouring rain where you are, or your horizon is covered in clouds and fog, you might still see an eclipse. Eclipse Soundscapes, an app for the visually impaired , will tell you what is happening above you, even if you yourself can’t see it. A number of news organizations are also broadcasting the event . I personally look forward to testing the CNN 360 option on my Gear VR. Eclipse glasses are not required.