Excitement is building in north Georgia for the upcoming solar eclipse! On August 21, 2017, all of the continental United States will see a partial solar eclipse. A select population who live in a 70-mile wide swath across the country, including northeast Georgia, will get to experience a total solar eclipse, where the moon will completely cover the sun! This will be the first eclipse to cross the continental US in nearly 100 years.
As thrilling as the event will be, eye safety is paramount during the solar eclipse, especially for little ones. Viewing the crescent of the “naked” sun for even a few moments will likely lead to lifelong visual impairment. Here are some tips from NASA to make sure everyone’s vision will be protected.
- If you want to view the eclipse directly, make sure your glasses have been designated with the ISO 12312-2 international standard and have the manufacturer’s name and address printed on the glasses.
- Do not use glasses that are older than three years.
- Do not use glasses that have wrinkles, scratches, or other defects on the lenses.
- Speak to children about the importance of properly wearing the glasses and keeping them on. Consider applying tape or an elastic band to the glasses to ensure a proper fit on children.
- Many school systems are delaying dismissal so that students will be properly supervised during the eclipse. Check with your school to confirm the dismissal time, and consider visiting your student during the event or checking them out of school early to supervise them yourself.
- If you are unable to find glasses, there are still ways you can enjoy the eclipse. You can easily construct a pinhole projector using a cereal box, aluminum foil, and printer paper – see instructions here.
- You can also enjoy the eclipse from the comfort and safety of your home. NASA Television will have live coverage throughout the day, and local news stations will also be covering the event.
Richardson Housing Group (RHG Homes) builds new homes in Atlanta. For more information on our new home communities in Gwinnett, Jackson, and DeKalb Counties, including available homes, photos, floorplans, and more, visit us online at www.RHGHomes.com. To keep up-to-date on the latest news and offerings by RHG Homes, check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RHG.homes. You can also catch up with us on Twitter and see footage of our beautiful new homes and communities on YouTube!
Image Source: By rlc:tk (Eclipse #39 Uploaded by ComputerHotline) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
