The enthusiasm surrounding the impending solar eclipse manifested Saturday when a packed room greeted Dwight Dulsky, a member of the Bucks-Mont Astronomy Association (BMA2), as he explained different solar eclipses, what makes them special and how to stay safe during one.
Gathered within the program room at the Grundy Library on Radcliffe Street in Bristol Borough, the group listened as Dulsky explained the differences between solar and lunar eclipses. The eclipse on Monday, August 21 is going to be the first total eclipse to grace the continental United States in more than 30 years, Dulsky said.
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“This is what people are really excited about, the fact that this is a total eclipse,” Duslky said to the group.
In short, an eclipse is what happens when one celestial body blocks out the light of another body. Solar eclipses happen during the day, and happen when the moon comes between the sun and the Earth. Lunar eclipses take place at night, and happen when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon.
Although total eclipses are somewhat rare, a partial solar eclipse happens on Earth roughly once every 18 months.
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The upcoming eclipse will make landfall in Oregon. From its initial landfall, it will make its way across the country in about 93 minutes before departing to the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina. The totality is short, but the eclipse will take about two hours to complete its full cycle. In Bristol and the surrounding areas, the eclipse will begin at 1:21 p.m., when the moon makes contact with the sun. At roughly 2:44 p.m., the maximum coverage the area receives, about 80 percent, will be reached. The day will go back to normal at about 4:01 p.m., as the bodies complete the eclipse.
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The only way to see the total eclipse and the corona of the eclipse is to be situated along the line of totality, or, the line tracing the eclipse across the country.
During the eclipse, skies will darken and temperatures will drop roughly 10 to 15 degrees. Wind might drop and wild animals will act confused as the sun goes away in the middle of the day, Dulsky said.
When viewing the eclipse, it is important to practice proper eye safety, Dulsky stressed.
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The eclipse should not be viewed without proper eye protection, and regular sunglasses just won’t cut it. Solar glasses and pinhole viewers can work in allowing you to view the eclipse while protecting your eyes. More than anything, Dulsky stressed not to look at the sun, during the eclipse or any other time, through binoculars or a telescope.
Viewers of the eclipse should not remove their glasses except during the totality of the eclipse. Bristol will not see the totality, but everyone in the area should still use the glasses and eyewear during the entire eclipse.
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Dulsky has been in the BMA2 since 2004. He will be traveling to Oregon to see the total eclipse and it will be the first total eclipse he has seen in person.
“It’s something that you’re going to want to see again,” Dulsky said.
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The Grundy Library will be hosting a viewing party of the eclipse between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, August 21.
