5 Eclipse Misconceptions
Common “urban legends” about solar eclipses
| Monday April 8, 2024 Totality at 3:13 P.M. | |
|---|---|
| Partial phase begins (ingress) | 1:59 P.M. |
| Totality (100% eclipse) | 3:13 P.M. |
| Partial phase begins (egress) | 3:17 P.M. |
| Eclipse ends | 4:29 P.M. |
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Remember, there are no dumb questions, so it’s really good to ask a lot of questions about eclipses and not believe everything you hear. Because some the things you might hear about eclipses are incorrect, and some can be potentially dangerous!
Misconception #1 – Solar Eclipses, Partial vs. Total
This topic is covered on the Eclipses Explained page, but it’s important enough to bear repeating.
In a
partial solar eclipse
phase, only a
portion of the Sun’s bright face is covered by the Moon. It’s a bright, sunshiny day from the beginning to the end, and you can always see your shadow behind you the whole time. You can hardly even tell that an eclipse is happening unless you view the Sun through a projected image, or through special solar filters or eclipse glasses, like
Eclipse Over Cleveland
Eclipse Shades.
However, every
total solar eclipse
begins and ends with a
partial phase (got it?) but during the middle of the eclipse event, the Moon completely covers 100% of the entire face of the Sun. At this time, the Moon’s full shadow passes overhead, extinguishing the bright rays of the Sun and causing a deep twilight to fall over the land. But this will
only be seen from the
path of totality, which will pass over Cleveland and
2/3 of the State of Ohio on Monday, April 8, 2024.
This is a subject of confusion among many people who have not heard that not all solar eclipses are the same. Some people might have seen a partial eclipse and thought it was the same thing as a total eclipse. They might be unprepared for the excitement of totality! So it’s important to appreciate the distinction. Check out our
Eclipse Experience page to learn what to expect during this total solar eclipse.
Misconception #2 – Unsafe Eclipse Viewing Methods
It’s very important to
safely view an eclipse since the consequences can be catastrophic. The Sun is
1,000,000
times brighter than a Full Moon and staring at an eclipse can
DESTROY your eyesight!
NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN unless through a proper solar viewer like
Eclipse Over Cleveland
Eclipse Shades.
You see people at eclipses wearing welding helmets, and this is one safe method. #14 welding glass is approved for direct solar viewing, with or without the welder’s mask. A projected image is always totally safe because no direct viewing is done.
However, some people have the tragically erroneous view that it’s safe to look at the eclipsed Sun through
X-ray film, a
mylar balloon,
a
CD or even a
candy wrapper! Some have heard it’s okay to view the eclipsed Sun through a
smoked piece of glass.
ALL OF THESE METHODS ARE WRONG!
Such materials are not dark enough to filter out all the bright rays from sunlight which can damage your eyes, resulting in a solar burn on your retina.
It cannot be stressed strongly
enough that the
only safe method of directly viewing the Sun is through proper solar filters designed specifically for that purpose. Accept no substitutes!
The most fun, safe method of viewing the eclipsed Sun is through proper solar filtering eclipse glasses, like
Eclipse Over Cleveland
Eclipse Shades. These glasses include reflective lenses made of a black material specially designed to meet all the international safety requirements. These lenses are
SO DARK that you can’t see anything
BUT the Sun!
Be sure to only use eclipse glasses created and sold by an approved Supplier of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers by the American Astronomical Society.
#14 welding glass is safe, but it gives a green image to the Sun, which is not a very sun-like color. As seen through Eclipse Shades the Sun appears as an orange color which looks more the way most people think the Sun ought to appear.
But be careful to
NOT use
Eclipse Shades with any other optics such as cameras, binoculars or telescopes. Only use special filters designed for such instruments.
Another important detail –
Eclipse Shades are only used to protect your eyes during partial phases….
TAKE OFF THE SHADES DURING TOTALITY!
If you leave them on, you’ll miss the whole thing!
Remember, it’s
TOTALLY SAFE to directly look at the Sun during
TOTALITY!
Misconception #3 – Invisible “Eclipse Rays”
The opposite of unsafe solar viewing is
too-safe solar viewing! Some have heard that it’s ALWAYS dangerous to look at
any portion of
any eclipse,
any time.Some people stay inside during an eclipse, fearing to go outdoors, worrying about going blind from dangerous, hypothetical “eclipse rays” that purportedly only radiate during an eclipse.
Some people are concerned about allowing kids to play outside during an eclipse, or wondering if their cats and dogs might go blind from being out during an eclipse.
Others won’t even look at a
lunar eclipse which happens at night, fearing that these same “eclipse rays” might radiate from the eclipsed Moon and harm their eyes.
It must be understood that there is no such thing as “eclipse rays”! There is only one single danger to the eyes during an eclipse – unfiltered viewing of the dazzlingly bright face of the Sun. This is the same danger of looking at the Sun at all other times when there is not an eclipse. This misconception has apparently arisen from all the dire warnings over the years about the dangers of unfiltered eclipse viewing. So a fear has arisen that there is something inherently unsafe about eclipses.
This extreme view is unfortunate since some people will voluntarily miss out on the very rare opportunity to see one the most wondrous natural phenomena visible from Planet Earth.
Remember, it’s
TOTALLY SAFE to view the partial phases of the eclipsed Sun through a projected image or through proper solar filtering eclipse glasses, like
Eclipse Over Cleveland
Eclipse Shades.
And it’s
TOTALLY SAFE to directly look at the Sun during
TOTALITY!
Misconception #4 – 99% is Good Enough
At the time of the last American total solar eclipse in 2017, an unfortunately erroneous misbelief circulated online that eclipse observers did not need to travel to the path of totality to see a total eclipse.
Reports circulated that locations away from the path with a 99% eclipse would see “99% darkness.” Locations that were close to the path but not on it were considered “close enough” and some people did not feel it necessary to travel the extra few miles.
A movement arose on social media of “99 percenters” who stridently argued that it was not necessary to travel to see totality. But as these “totality deniers” discovered on that Eclipse Day, 99% is
NOT good enough if one intends to see a total solar eclipse.
The fact is, the Sun is so
overwhelmingly bright that if even a
tiny speck of the Sun’s face is visible, there is still a perception of sunshiny daylight. At 99% you can still see your shadow cast behind you, even at the maximum phases of partial eclipse. You might see
Baily's Beads
or even
Diamond Ring, but you never transition to totality.
From the start of the partial phase to 99%, the brightness drops by only a factor of 100 from a normal fully sunny day. But the pupil of the human eye opens to adjust to this difference, so that it still appears sunny. But during that last dip from 99% to 100%, the Sun’s brightness drops by a factor of 10,000! So during transition to totality, there is a dramatic perception of darkness falling over the land that you never experience at 99%. Check out our Eclipse Experience page to learn what to expect during this total solar eclipse.
Being just inside the path is good but deeper is better. If you’re just barely inside the path near the edge, totality is very short, less than a minute, maybe even mere seconds. So you’d do well to drive even a few miles deeper into the path to see a longer interval of totality. The closer you get to the centerline of the path, the longer the totality!
Or just come to Cleveland where we will have 3 minutes and 50 seconds! I promise that it will be
the most memorable 3 minutes and 50 seconds of your life!
Misconception #5 – Eclipse Day Trip
During the 2017 total solar eclipse, a lot of people thought they could just jump in their cars that morning and drive a couple hours to see the eclipse. Great theory, but in practice, they found themselves sharing the road with several million people who had the same idea! Bumper to bumper traffic jams ensued from coast to coast as last-minute eclipse daytrippers flocked to the path of totality in droves.
If you need to travel to the path, have a solid plan in place for Eclipse Day 2024. If you live in Ohio near the path but not on it, get an early start that day, leaving several hours before the partial phase begins. Arrive early at your intended destination and have breakfast and lunch in local restaurants, and shop in the local stores until eclipse time.
If you’re travelling further, from Michigan or PA or points outward, start driving over the weekend beforehand and have a hotel reservation on or close to the path. Since hotel rooms will be in high demand, make your reservation early, months in advance, or as soon as possible. If you can’t stay on the path, get a room somewhere near the path, as close as possible, to minimize any same-day traffic snarls.
This will also be a prime opportunity for AirBnBs. Also, if you have a friend or family member along the path of totality, arrange an overnight visit for Eclipse Day.
If previous history holds, the media won’t promote the eclipse until short days and weeks beforehand. There will then be a flurry of last minute planning and a rush to the path, especially locations with favorable weather forecasts. Be prepared so you can have the best possible eclipse experience!
* * * * *
Good Planning Includes Ordering Eclipse Shades!
Don’t wait! Demand will spike as Eclipse Day 2024 approaches. Beat the rush and order your Shades early, for you and your friends and family!
Commemorative design! Collector’s item!
Includes the times of eclipse phases and instructions for viewing from Cleveland.
Made in the USA!
These are the real thing! They're NOT those unsafe eclipse glasses sold on that big tech online seller site during the 2017 eclipse!
Eclipse Over Cleveland is an approved Distributor of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers by the American Astronomical Society.
Eclipse Shades are produced by Rainbow Symphony, an
approved Manufacturer of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers by the
American Astronomical Society.
Eclipse Shades are CE certified, meets the requirement for ISO 12312-2:2015
“Filters for direct observation of the sun”
BUY ECLIPSE SHADES FROM THESE LOCAL RETAILERS!
Visit the following retail establishments around the Cleveland area!
East Side
Mac's Backs - 1820 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-2665
West Side
Sixth City Cycles - 4274 Pearl Rd, Old Brooklyn, 216-282-7794
B & L Comics - 5591 Ridge Rd, Parma, 440-886-3077
Eye Optical Inc. - 5249 Broadview Rd, Parma, 216-351-7400
