Dear Students & Parents,
On April 8th, there will be a solar eclipse visible in our region. The Middle School has purchased a pair of solar eclipse glasses for each student so they can safely view this extraordinary event. Wellsboro will experience near totality – which means we will see about 95% of the sun obscured by the moon. The eclipse will begin around 2:05 p.m. and end around 4:34 p.m. with totality at approximately 3:21 p.m.
To make the most of this event, there are a couple of safety rules to keep in mind:
1) Only used approved eclipse glasses that meet international standards ISO 12312-2 certification.
a. It is not safe to look at the sun with regular sunglasses or without any eye protection even on a non-eclipse day.
b. Certified eclipse glasses block out almost all of the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light for the sun – which make them 100,000 times darker than regular sunglasses.
c. Staring at the sun without proper eye protection leads to damage of the retina and eventual blindness.
d. If someone has vision health problems, then solar viewing is not recommended, even with eclipse glasses.
e. Eclipse glasses are not designed for photographic use - they are only rated to protect your vision from solar energy. Binoculars, cameras, telescopes, and other optical devices concentrate the sunlight passing through them, so they use a different type of filter to protect your equipment and your eyes from the sun’s energy.
2) Visually inspect the eclipse glasses before each use.
a. If there are scratches, tears, or punctures of the dark protective film, it will not protect your eyes.
b. Do not touch the film - the oils and dirt from your fingers can damage the protective coating on the film.
3) Only wear the glasses when sitting or standing still.
a. Since they block almost all light, eclipse glasses should not be worn when moving around.
4) Stay aware of the amount of time that they are being worn.
a. Eclipse glasses are meant for limited wear, which means 3 minutes of continuous use or hours of intermittent use.
b. Since solar energy is so intense, eclipse glasses can only offer limited protection – the film on the glasses will heat up with nonstop exposure to sunlight.
c. The protective film will break down with exposure to sunlight. They should be disposed of and not used after 3 years.
5) Solar eclipse glasses are adjustable.
a. There are 2 score marks to adjust the fit of the solar glasses. Be careful when bending the paperboard frames so the solar protective film does not get scratched or damaged.
The eclipse glasses have instructions and reminders printed on the side in case you forget this list of helpful instructions.
We hope you make the most of this rare event and remember to stay safe.
Happy Eclipse Day,
R.L.B.M.S. Science Teachers