by Grab your eclipse glasses – weather permitting, Los Angeles County and the rest of California will get a glimpse of the rare total eclipse on Monday.
Unfortunately for eclipse fans on the West Coast, Californians will only be able to see a partial eclipse. From the visual point of view of this state, the moon and the sun will not be precisely aligned, and only part of the sun’s disk is blocked, according to the Griffith Observatory.
The moon’s narrowing of the sun’s path will begin at 10:06 am and will have made a significant dent in the image of the sun by 10:39 am. to the observatory.
Read more: How to watch the solar eclipse from California – and avoid heartbreak if you’re looking for ‘totality’
Depending on where you are in the state, you will get a slightly different view of the eclipse. For example, in Los Angeles half the sun will be visibly covered by the moon, but in San Francisco only a third will be covered. Anglenos can take that as a victory.
NASA offers an online eclipse explorer map if you want to time your observation correctly.
This is a rare event; The next solar eclipse visible from California won’t happen until 2044. To help you prepare, experts share how you can view the eclipse safely, where to find eye protection, how to photograph the eclipse photographed and who will host the public viewing parties in Los Angeles County.
How to watch the eclipse safely
The first rule of solar eclipse is, don’t look at the sun without specialized eclipse glasses or solar viewers. It is not safe.
If you look up at the eclipse without protection, it will cause immediate serious eye injury, according to NASA.
The same rule applies to viewing the eclipse through a camera lens, binoculars, telescope or regular sunglasses. According to NASA, the concentrated sun rays will burn through the lens filter and cause serious damage to your eyes.
You can use solar viewers or eclipse glasses that meet the international standard ISO 12312-2. These glasses reduce visible sunlight to safe and comfortable levels and block all but a small fraction of solar UV and infrared radiation, according to the American Astronomical Society.
The association warns that some eclipse glasses are labeled as ISO-compliant but have not been properly tested. Unfortunately, there is no way for you to be able to test whether the eclipse glasses are legit or not before you buy them. Instead, the association shares a list of reputable suppliers of eclipse glasses, viewers and online filters.
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Once you’ve got some eclipse glasses on hand, here’s how to tell if they’re safe. Through a pair of eclipse glasses you should be able to see only the sun (or something comparably bright) and nothing else. The following are some signs that the viewer may not be safe:
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If you can see shaded lamps or other common household light fixtures, don’t use it.
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If you look at the sun through the viewer and find it uncomfortably bright, don’t use it. Safe solar filters produce a view of the sun that is comfortably bright and focused.
The American Astronomical Society advises against buying eclipse glasses that come up in internet searches or online advertisements. You can rely on glasses and viewers from a science museum, planetarium or astronomy trade show.
When you get a pair of glasses or viewers, make sure they are in good condition. If the audience is torn, scratched or punctured, throw them away. If the filters are coming loose from their cardboard or plastic frames, throw them away.
You can also view the eclipse indirectly using a pinhole projection. With the sun behind you, let the sunlight pass through a small opening and project a sun image onto a nearby surface. Do not look at the sun through the pinhole.
There are a number of things you can use to make a pin projector, such as an index card with a hole punched in it, a pasta colander, a straw hat (with visible holes) or even your bare hands.
Experts like Ed Krupp, longtime director of the Griffith Observatory, advise against staring at the eclipse for even a minute on end, even with proper eye protection.
Krupp recommends looking up for one minute to see the progress, then waiting 10 minutes or so before checking back.
Where to get eclipse glasses
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Several branches of the Los Angeles Public Library are giving away free eclipse sunglasses every day through Saturday, but only to the first 40 people who request them. The library’s main online calendar lists participating branches.
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The Los Angeles Public Library will be handing out 21,000 eclipse sunglasses at the Los Angeles Maker Faire on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Chinatown.
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Los Angeles County Library branches are making the protective eyewear available to the public while supplies last. The county has a list of branch locations and contact information so you can call ahead to check the branch’s supply.
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Participating Warby Parker locations are giving away free eclipse sunglasses while supplies last. The prescription eyeglass retailer’s website has a list of locations where the goggles are dispensed.
Tips for taking a photo of the eclipse with your phone
Your eyes aren’t the only thing you shouldn’t point at the sun. Pointing the camera lens at the sun for long periods of time without a special filter can also damage your smartphone.
It’s usually okay to include the sun in a photo that’s focused on something else – for example, if you’re taking a landscape photo that includes the sun, that’s not a camera safety issue. If you are focused on the sun, place eclipse glasses or certified solar filters over the camera lens.
Read more: How to take a photo of the eclipse without damaging your phone
Eclipse viewing events
Eclipse events across Los Angeles are taking place from 10 a.m. to noon Monday.
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The California Science Center is hosting hands-on educational activities and viewing of the eclipse, which are included with the center’s free general admission. Free eclipse glasses will be available.
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Cal State LA Honors College will provide viewing glasses and space for its students and the public to view the eclipse between the Biological Sciences Building and the Annenberg Science Complex. For more information, call (323) 343-5969 or email honorscollege@calstatela.edu.
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In celebration of National Library week, 10 AU County Library branches are hosting an educational viewing of the eclipse. Participating branches are Stevenson Ranch, El Camino Real, Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey, Chet Holifield, Diamond Bar, Acton Agua Dulce, Manhattan Beach, Rowland Heights, Woodcrest and Lake Los Angeles. Call the participating branch for more information.
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Pierce College Los Angeles is hosting an eclipse party that will be open to the public on the second floor balcony of the Science Center on campus. Eclipse sunglasses will be provided by the team and solar telescopes will be on site. Any questions or requests for special arrangements should be emailed to Dale Fields at fieldsdl@piercecollege.edu.
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Caltech is holding a public viewing party at the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Eclipse glasses will be available while supplies last, and there will be a solar telescope on site. Astrophysicists will be on hand during the viewing to help everyone get the most out of the rare experience. For more information, visit the Caltech website or email Cameron Hummels at chummels@caltech.edu.
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If you want to see the near death of the moon, the Griffith Observatory will broadcast the total solar eclipse live on Youtube from Belton, Texas.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
