Published August 17 2017
On Monday, Aug. 21, the United States will experience its first total solar eclipse since 1991 and the first to move across the entire mainland of the country since 1918.A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in between the Earth and the sun. While this rare occurrence may be exciting, safety is a concern. Looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse could severely hurt your eyes.
The eclipse will start at about 9:10 a.m. Pacific Time on August 21, peak around 10:20 a.m. and end at about 11:40 a.m. For exact times for your location, visit the NASA Interactive Eclipse Map.
Please remember these safety tips:
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Make sure to wear special solar-filtered sunglasses from a reputable seller if you plan to look directly at the eclipse.
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It is only safe to look at the sun during the eclipse when the moon is totally covering the sun. This only happens for a brief period and will only occur in a very narrow path about 70 miles wide from Oregon to South Carolina. The moon will not totally cover the sun for viewers in King County.
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You can also safely view the eclipse through a solar-filtered telescope or welder's glass #14 and darker.
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Only about 90% of the sun will be covered if you are viewing the eclipse from King County. You must use special solar-filtered sunglasses, dark welder's glass, or a projection device to safely see the eclipse in our region.
For more information and resources on the solar eclipse, visit: