By Dominic Abassi

Eclipse glasses in short supply as Nanaimo gears up for rare event

Aug 20, 2017 | 2:57 PM

NANAIMO — Excitement about Monday’s total solar eclipse has peaked and finding proper eyewear to view the event safely appears next to impossible in Nanaimo.

Starting at just after 9 a.m. on Aug. 21, the moon will pass between the Earth and sun, eventually turning daylight to darkness for a few brief minutes. While the path of totality travels from Oregon to South Carolina, Nanaimo will enjoy 86 per cent coverage. Peak coverage is expected at 10:20.

Dr. Greg Arkos, an astronomy professor at Vancouver Island University, said it has been nearly 100 years since an eclipse has spanned North America from coast-to-coast. Arkso will travel to Idaho to get a prime vantage point. Despite the urge to stare at the rare event, Arkos said there are serious risks if people don’t have proper eclipse glasses.

“Avoid the temptation if you don’t have proper eyewear, don’t look at it. Don’t take the risk of doing it,” he said. “People are very tempted, especially when it’s largely covered like it will be here…The rays that are there are going to damage the back of your eye, basically it will burn out the back of your eye. It doesn’t take very long for that to happen.”

Regular sunglasses just won’t cut it during the direct viewing for an eclipse because they allow in thousands of times more sunlight than is safe to reach your eyes. NASA said special solar eclipse glasses should be marked with the “ISO 12312-2” international safety standard on the label. Make sure there are no scratches on the lenses.

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NanaimoNewsNOW called more than half-a-dozen retailers in town on Sunday and all were sold out of eclipse glasses. Several stated demand was so intense they’ve been out of stock for weeks.

The Nanaimo Astronomy Society is hosting a free viewing event in Maffeo Sutton Park starting at 9 a.m. Vice-President Tony Puerzer, who also travelled to the United States this weekend, said they will have a batch of certified eclipse glasses to hand out, as well as telescopes with solar filters.

Puerzer urged people to be safe and take precautions. “It is extremely dangerous.”

If you can’t get your hands on the approved glasses, another viewing option is making a pinhole camera.

NASA will offer a live streaming video of Monday’s eclipse, which we will also carry on NanaimoNewsNOW starting shortly after 9 a.m. It will include additional shots from NASA aircrafts, satellites, and telescopes.

NASA also compiled a list of common eclipse misconceptions. People won’t have to worry about old wive’s tales saying eclipses are bad for pregnant women, food prepared during the event will be poisoned or they are a sign something bad is going to happen. Information on safety tips can be found here.

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On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW