Solar eclipse visible in Ritzville on Aug. 21

People across the United States, including folks in Ritzville, will have an opportunity to view of one of nature’s most inspiring events.

On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible from the United States for the first time in 38 years. During the event, the sun will disappear behind the moon, causing daylight to turn into twilight, as well as a drop in temperatures in different areas across the country.

The eclipse will last for 94 minutes, beginning around 10:15 a.m. PST in Oregon and ending at 2:49 p.m. EST in South Carolina. The duration of a solar eclipse depends on where a person is inside the path of totality.

For residents who are looking for a place to watch the eclipse, the Ritzville Public Library will host its an Eclipse Viewing Party, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Carnegie Building. There will be different eclipse-themed crafts, activities and refreshments.

The eclipse is scheduled to begin in Ritzville at around 10:40 a.m., after it starts in Seattle at 10:37 a.m. and before it hits Spokane at 10:44 a.m.

Washington state is outside of the eclipse’s totality path, which means Ritzville residents and other Washingtonians will only view a partial eclipse.

“The moon will cast a shadow, a lot like an arc, in the sun,” said Paul Yost, during an Aug. 3 presentation at Lind-Ritzville High School, which was sponsored by the Ritzville Library.

Yost, a board member for the Spokane Astronomical Society, added “solar eclipses are rare,” and he had only seen three during his lifetime.

“All of those were partial solar eclipses,” he added.

Yost explained that partial lunar eclipses, which occur when the Earth passes between the moon and the sun during a full moon, are more common than solar eclipses.

However, the moon’s orbit is tilted five degrees more than the Earth’s and the two are not exactly in line with the sun. Total lunar eclipses only occur twice a year.

“Here in Ritzville it’s easier to see the moon during the day because the air is nice and cleaner,” Yost said.

Although an eclipse is a rare sight, viewers should take precautions if they are going to watch it.

Yost explained looking directly into the sun without protective eyewear for long periods of time will cause irerversal damage to the retina. The damage accumulates to the point where a person will no longer be able to see.

Spectators should not use sunglasses to view the eclipse, as they do not offer sufficent protection from the sun’s rays.

There are special solar glasses viewers can use to watch the eclipse.

These glasses allow almost no light to shine through the lens, allowing a person to look at the sun during the eclipse for a short period of time, without causing any serious damage to their eyes.

If a person is wearing eyeglasses, they should place the solar glasses over their eyewear during the eclipse.

The Ritzville Library has solar glasses available for families. The library acquired 1,000 of these glasses through a grant.

Residents who do not have glasses but still want to safely look at the solar eclipse can make a pinhole box camera using a cardboard box, paper and aluminum foil.

Welder googles with a No. 14 or darker filter, cameras, telescopes or binoculars with approved solar filters can also be used as alternative methods to view the eclipse.

To acquire a set of solar glasses before the eclipse party, visit the Ritzville Library. Library staff will also be handing out glasses at the eclipse event.