Taken Through the Lens of Solar Eclipse Glasses (Woodland Park, NJ)
Picture a normal sunny day that unexpectedly goes from beautifully shining into a gloomy night, as if the sun had momentarily drifted off.
This is known as a solar eclipse; occurring when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, causing the moon’s shadow to cover up the sun’s light. This is a rare occurrence that only happens every three to five years, depending on planetary alignments that may take place, lasting from only a few seconds to about five minutes.
One thing to look out for when spectating the cosmic phenomenon is something known as solar retinopathy; caused by looking directly at the sun while the eclipse is taking place because of the intense amount of light passing through your eye, which damages the light-sensitive cells in your retina, potentially leaving you blind.
For this reason, NASA, Google, along with other companies to provide a safe way to view a solar eclipse, created eclipse-viewing glasses.
On April 8th, 2024, parts of the Mid-West, Mid-East, and northeastern parts of the US had the opportunity to witness this captivating sight. The eclipse began approximately at 2:10pm and lasted till about 4:35pm. In New Jersey, we saw about 92% coverage. At 3:24pm the deepest point of the eclipse occurred and lasted for nearly two minutes before the moon began to pass the sun.
The next solar eclipse will be visible in the United States is estimated to be on August 23rd, 2024, and so, as we await the next eclipse, prepare!
Gather your glasses to watch and be near your friends and family.
As you witness the moon’s shadow covering the sun, take a moment to think of the untold mysteries that may exist beyond our sight. Allow this breathtaking event to remind you of the numerous hidden things that await you in this extraordinary world.