Just as Earth revolves around the sun, so too does the moon revolve around Earth. Sometimes, when the angle is just right, the moon slides in front of Earth and ends up completely blocking the sun’s rays: simply put, this is a solar eclipse.
Total solar eclipses look unnatural, like some divine harbinger of misfortune, though they are anything but. They are completely natural phenomena but rare, only occurring once every one to two years over select portions of the globe, drawing crowds of amazed onlookers.
Despite the exotic beauty of seeing a giant circle slowly shade out the sun, solar eclipses should not be viewed by the naked eye. Even though the moon is, quite literally, blocking out all the light, this phase only occurs during a brief period called totality.
Otherwise, the full intensity of the sun’s rays is present and ready to inflict serious damage to sensitive pupils. As such, it is paramount to be smart and safe about how one beholds such spectacles. Here are some helpful pointers and four steps to viewing the solar eclipse safely.
