3/21/2024 9:00:00 AM
The Solar Eclipse is April 8, 2024. WNY will be along the line of totality (between 3-3:30 p.m.), meaning complete darkness while the moon completely blocks the view of the sun. This only happens on an average of once every 350 years in a specific location.
Among many preparations, the NFTA is distributing disposable glasses to employees for viewing the Eclipse.
Watching a solar eclipse is an awe-inspiring experience, but looking directly at the sun can damage your eyes. The retina is located at the back of our eyes, and it transmits images of what we see to our brain. The light from the sun can damage or destroy the cells on our retina, leading to solar retinopathy, also known as "eclipse blindness."
The only way to safely look at the sun during an eclipse is with solar eclipse glasses. Solar eclipse glasses are made with special solar filters. Regular sunglasses or homemade solar filters are NOT safe for watching an eclipse because they transmit sunlight at a rate that is thousands of times too high.
- Check your solar eclipse glasses before using them. If you see any scratches or damage, don't use them.
- Supervise children to make sure they're using solar eclipse glasses correctly.
- Cover your eyes with your solar eclipse glasses before you look at the sun. Look away before you remove your glasses.
- Never use a camera, binoculars, or telescope to look at a solar eclipse, even if you have your eclipse glasses on. These devices will intensify the sun's rays and will damage your solar eclipse glasses and your eyes.