If you live in Cleveland, Ohio, then you will be lucky enough to be able to view a total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024. 
If you’re looking to watch, the solar eclipse will last about two hours and 30 minutes, with the path of totality being visible for only three minutes and 50 seconds. It begins at 1:59 pm and will continue until 4:29 pm, with the maximum viewing at 3:15 pm.
It’s a beautiful phenomenon that you shouldn’t miss, but it needs to be viewed with caution.
What Happens During a Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse is a rare occasion in which the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, creating a path of darkness during the day.
This event occurs typically once every 18 months somewhere around the world, but you need to be in the path of totality to actually see it. The path of totality is the path that the moon’s shadow takes across the surface of the Earth. It’s typically 1,000 miles long and 100 miles wide.
The last total solar eclipse that was visible in the United States was in 2017. The next time that a total solar eclipse will be able to be seen in Cleveland after 2024 will be in 2044.
So, make sure you don’t miss this rare event.
How to View the Solar Eclipse Safely
Without taking the necessary precautions during the solar eclipse, it can end up damaging your eyes due to the intense sun rays that will be involved. The time that can be dangerous is before totality and after.
When viewing the eclipse, it’s vital to use solar-viewing glasses, or “eclipse glasses.” These are different than regular sunglasses, as solar-viewing glasses are specifically designed to block out the intensity of the sun’s rays for this event. Even the darkest sunglasses will not work as an alternative.
Other safe viewing techniques include solar filters for optics or projection techniques such as pinholes. It’s essential to not look directly at the sun while the eclipse is taking place, meaning that looking through a regular camera lens or binoculars is not safe.
It is only necessary to take these precautions during the time leading up to the total eclipse and after. When the sun is completely blocked out and no light is visible, you can remove your glasses to see the eclipse with your own eyes. However, the second that light returns, the glasses must be put back on again.
Vision Experts at Cleveland Eye Clinic
Your eye health is essential to your overall well-being. Trust the highly-skilled professionals at Cleveland Eye Clinic to take care of you, whether you need a routine eye exam or LASIK surgery, we have you covered.
Call us at 1-888-625-7442 or contact us on our website to ask any questions or schedule an appointment.
