Get a Glimpse of the Eclipse! (2024)

If you’ve seen the news or a weather report in the past few weeks, you’ve likely heard about the total solar eclipse that will pass over the United States on Monday, April 8. Maybe you don’t really understand what an eclipse is and why you should be excited for it. Or maybe you’re frustrated because you don’t have the type of special glasses you need to view the eclipse safely. CCPL is here to help you figure out the answers to these questions – and to get yourself a pair of safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”).

Let’s start with what is an eclipse and why it is so important. An eclipse happens when any celestial body passes in front of another. In the case of a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun from sight for a brief period of time. The sun is technically a star but, like planets, is made of multiple layers. Corona is the name of the sun’s outermost layer and understanding the corona is key to grasping how heat and energy are transferred to solar wind. Scientists aren’t often able to study the corona due to the brightness of the sun; however, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon, even the faintest areas of the corona become visible and scientists have the opportunity to gather important information.

Humans aren’t the only ones who are affected by an eclipse. Many animals and insects respond to a solar eclipse in various ways. Wind patterns sometimes change and temperatures may drop when the sun is completely obscured. Plants can also be altered by the totality of a solar eclipse.

You can only look at a total solar eclipse without eye protection during a very brief (3-4 minutes) period when the moon completely blocks the bright face of the sun. You’ll know it is safe to do so when you can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses. Partial solar eclipses, as we here in Virginia will see on April 8, can be very dangerous in terms of viewing. A total eclipse blocks the brightness of the sun but a partial solar eclipse only blocks part of that brightness. It is the brightness of the sun that makes looking at it so dangerous. Thankfully we have a way to keep ourselves safe: safe solar viewing glasses.

You may be thinking, how are these any different than regular sunglasses? Looking at the sun directly can damage your retina, leading to a condition known as “eclipse blindness,” and the damage can be temporary or permanent. Sunglasses you keep in your car or purse are shaded enough to help protect your eyes from indirect sunlight while being opaque enough for you to still see what is going on around you; however, the shading is not dark enough to prevent retinal damage. Eclipse glasses are significantly darker (think 1,000 times darker!) than ordinary sunglasses (even polarized ones). These eclipse glasses must be worn at all times when looking at a partial eclipse. CCPL has a limited number of eclipse glasses at all library locations for use at the library on the day of the solar event. The eclipse glasses meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. If you are not able to come to your local library on April 8, or you want to make sure you get a pair before the big day, CCPL has ways you can receive a pair of eclipse glasses to keep and use anywhere.

Between Monday, March 25-Saturday, April 6, CCPL will give you a pair of eclipse glasses (while supplies last) when you bring in a donation to help Backpacks for the Homeless, a group that helps the homeless in the Richmond area. All donations must be new and in their original packaging. Below are the donations needed. Please note the quantity required to receive a pair of eclipse glasses. One pair of glasses per family.

Each CCPL location will show a livestream of the total eclipse from NASA on April 8. Come by your local library and watch the livestream, observe the eclipse outside or both! When you’re done, take home a book or watch a program online to learn more about solar eclipses.