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Local libraries giving out free eclipse glasses

“This is a sight in the sky that you do not want to miss!” The partial eclipse ends at 2:30 p.m. There will be little to no cloud coverage.

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Americans will experience the first total solar eclipse in the continental U.S.in 38 years Monday. Florida is not in this path of totality, but everyone in North America, South America and parts of Europe will get to see a partial solar eclipse. We know that there are an average of two or three eclipses every year so they are not that rare, but this one is the first to cross the entire USA continent since 1918 and the first with a totality exclusive to the United States since 1776. This eclipse is the first in nearly a century that sweeps from one coast of the country to the other, and it is the first time a solar eclipse was visible only from America since before the country was founded.

As this rare celestial event draws near, we are learning more about eclipses in general and this total solar eclipse in particular.

Nasa scientist Jim Garvin told CBN News that the solar eclipse will be spectacular. “There is a 60 to 70 mile wide path of totality”, according to the website.

The discovery of counterfeits prompted Amazon.com on August 12 to issue a mass recall on all “eclipse glasses” sold through the company, which included the good ones as well as the bad.

The eclipse will occur on Monday, August 21st. “I urge everyone to safely experience the eclipse; it’s a wonderful opportunity for families and teachers to share the experience with children”. A simple card projector can be made by making a tiny hole in a sheet of cardboard (a paper plate works well) and holding that sheet directly between the sun and a second sheet, giving an inverted image of the eclipse.

On the day of the event, St. Mary’s students will venture outside for a picnic and will stay outside to view the eclipse through special glasses the school has obtained.

During the total eclipse, you can see the corona – the sun’s outer atmosphere – surrounding the moon.

And for some extra enjoyment, we recommend viewing the solar eclipse while listening to “Moon Shadow” by Cat Stevens and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”.

“We’re delighted that so many people came up to get their solar eclipse glasses and hope that everyone remembers to view the eclipse safely”.

Eclipse chasers, who plan their jaunts over the globe around the location of the next eclipse, are no doubt already arranging their visits. Everyone can then view the spectacle with their backs to the Sun, which is the safest way for kids (and more social for everyone).

“We’re getting in an eclipse either a new or full moon [with] either a lunar or solar eclipse”, Wooten said.

Here in the Yuma, the partial solar eclipse event officially begins at 10:26 a.m. People often try to watch eclipses through regular sunglasses or other ways, and what happens there is that your eyes can be damaged without you noticing right away.

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The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, and free eclipse viewing glasses will be provided while supplies last. (Sarasota schools let out from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m., depending on the school.) Whenever possible, students should wait in covered areas for buses during dismissal time.

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