Solar Eclipse will be a sight to see if done safely
JMU News
HARRISONBURG, Va. — A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Harrisonburg on Monday, April 8 and James Madison University physics professor Geary Albright has some tips for viewing the rare event safely.
Although it is only a partial eclipse viewers should always wear eye protection, such as eclipse glasses, Albright said. “Be sure that your children do not look at the Sun,” he said. “It is hard for grownups not to look, children have even less discipline, so be careful with their eyes.”
Albright said a partial solar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes into the moon’s shadow and blocks the sunlight.
Albright’s students will be setting up telescopes on the quad and at the astronomy park on east campus for people to view the eclipse. They will have some eclipse glasses on hand.
Albright recommends that people try to view the two-and-a-half-hour spectacle on Monday since there won't be another one for 20 years. “The next one is not until 2044, so if you like this sort of thing, we recommend seeing it this year and avoid the rush in 2044.”
Harrisonburg residents can expect to see a 90% solar eclipse between 2-4:30 p.m. The maximum darkness should be about 3:17 p.m.
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Contact: Eric Gorton, gortonej@jmu.edu
