August 18, 2017 at 4:19 p.m.
Glimpse the eclipse: Northwoods residents will be able to observe rare natural wonder
Glimpse the eclipse: Northwoods residents will be able to observe rare natural wonder
By By Paige Courtney-
Wisconsin viewers will view anywhere from about an 88 to 74 percent total eclipse, depending on location, as reported by the Department of Astronomy at UW-Madison.
So, what is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is situated directly between the sun and the earth.
During a total eclipse, "the new moon will be aligned directly between the sun and the earth," said Chuck Schaffer of the Lakeland Photographic Club.
The moon appears to cover the sun in the sky and the atmosphere around the sun can be seen, called the corona.
Why this eclipse is so special
Due to the unique path of this particular solar eclipse, everyone in America has the opportunity to see this spectacular natural wonder from wherever they are, depending on weather.
"This eclipse is special because it is covering only the continental United States," Schaffer said. "This only happens very rarely, that it would be on one continent like this."
The eclipse will start about 2,500 miles away from the United States, in the northern Pacific Ocean. Then it will reach Oregon, and the shadow will continue in a southeastern trend across the continent and exit from South Carolina.
"The next total solar eclipse in the United States will be on April 8, 2024." Shaffer said. "The last one before this was Feb. 26, 1979 in the United States, that crossed just the northwest part of the United States. I, myself, drove to Winnepeg, Canada and crossed a blizzard in North Dakota to see that. That was 38 years ago."
Although Schaffer himself says he is avoiding the surge of eclipse chasers headed towards the central United States, he recommends traveling to see the total eclipse. The town of Carbondale, Ill., will see both this eclipse and the upcoming eclipse in 2024. The area is perfect for any eclipse chasers yearning to see the total eclipse in all of its beauty.
A future solar eclipse schedule can be viewed at www.greatamericaneclipse.com/future/.
What to expect in Wisconsin
"In nothern Wisconsin, we are going to experience about 76 percent of a total eclipse, so 76 of the sun's disc will be covered," Schaffer reported. "This will last for roughly two and a half minutes."
In the town of Minocqua, the eclipse will begin at 11:50 a.m., and reach maximum coverage at 1:11 p.m. The eclipse finishes at about 2:34 p.m.
"For the Rhinelander area, it starts at ... about 9 minutes before noon," Roy Eckberg, a meteorologist at the Green Bay National Weather Service Station, said. "It looks like the maximum eclipse will be right around 1:12 p.m. And the eclipse should end around 2:34 p.m."
The entire event should last approximately two and a half hours, during which time you can see the moon eclipsing the sun from various coverage areas.
Wisconsin will be located in the penumbra shadow of the moon, where the partial eclipse is seen. The penumbra shadow extends from the tip of South America, well up into the Arctic area. To see the total eclipse, you have to travel to the locations of the umbra shadow, a 70-mile wide path following the southeastern trend of the eclipse across the United States.
Viewing the eclipse is completely dependent on weather. Make sure the radar is clear before attempting to see the eclipse. Even partial cloud coverage will make viewing the eclipse difficult.
More information on the eclipse can be found at eclipse2017.nasa.gov.
What should I do to protect my eyes?
Vision experts say it will be critical for Americans to protect their eyes during the solar eclipse.
"Looking at the sun, even for a short period, without proper protection can cause irreparable eye damage, even permanent eye vision loss," Dr. David P. Nelson, Madison area optometrist and current president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) said in a press release about the upcoming eclipse. "Since Wisconsin is not an area that will experience complete coverage, wearing glasses specifically designed for eclipse viewing is critical."
Standard sunglasses, regardless of ultraviolet markings, including UVA and UVB, will not provide enough protection for eclipse viewing due to the intensity of the rays, the release states. The sun's rays may be partially blocked during an eclipse, but the remaining visible rays are still intense enough to cause serious eye damage or even loss of vision. "Eclipse glasses" should have an ISO 12312-2 marking on them to be considered safe for looking at the sun. These glasses should be closely inspected prior to use to ensure the solar filters are free of any scratches or damages. If imperfections are found, the glasses should be discarded. Binoculars, cameras and telescopes should not be used when viewing the eclipse, even if wearingeclipse glasses during use, as these devices can magnify the sun's rays and negate the effectiveness of the protective eyewear.
"You can't take pictures through a camera or if you have an iPhone, and if you take pictures using it, there's a very good chance that you will ruin your camera," Shaffer said about eclipse viewing safety.
"Children should be closely monitored during the eclipse," explains Dr. Nelson. "Unlike the mature lens found in an adult eye, a child's lens cannot filter out UV rays as easily, causing damage to the child's retina. When children play outside, they are often excited and may remove their glasses or their glasses may fall off during activities."
Overexposure to the sun's rays can cause damage to both the front surface of the eye (photokeratitis) and the inside or back of the eye (solar retinopathy). Symptoms include eye pain, burning or red eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision, difficulty in recognizing shapes, objects appearing distorted, headaches, watery eyes, and/or swelling around the eye or eyelid.
"If experiencing any post-exposure symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately, especially if the condition is worsening with time," said Dr. Nelson. "Just as with a sunburn, delayed symptoms can also occur several hours after overexposure."
To find an optometrist in your area, visit http://www.woa-eyes.org/members.
DOT: Drivers should focus on the road, not the skies
The nation's first total solar eclipse since 1979 will likely have many people looking skyward on Monday. But traffic safety officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) want drivers to stay focused on the road, click-on their vehicle's low-beam headlights, and park in a safe area if they decide to stop and view the eclipse.
"We're simply reminding motorists to remain focused on driving at all times, use common sense, and never stop along a roadway unless it's an emergency," David Pabst, Director of WisDOT's Bureau of Transportation Safety, said in a press release. "Any time that motorists stop along a highway, they put themselves and their passengers at risk of being struck, injured or killed by other vehicles."
The eclipse impacts will be most noticeable through the mid-section of the United States - roughly from the state of Oregon through the Carolinas. In Wisconsin, Monday's eclipse will be evident between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. with peak darkness shortly after 1 p.m. as the moon covers about 80 percent of the sun. Dynamic message signs along key highway corridors will carry messages reminding motorists of the eclipse and to remain focused on highway safety.
"For many people, this will be their first major solar eclipse, and some will want to capture the event on their smartphone or other electronic device," Pabst said. "Along with taking steps to protect their eyes, we're asking drivers to be smart and to resist distractions whenever they're behind the wheel so everyone can reach their destinations safely."
More information on the eclipse is available on the WisDOT website.
Paige Courtney may be reached via email at [email protected].
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