News/Sports

Upcoming Solar Eclipse Will Obscure Large View Of The Sun From Jamaica, But Protect Your Eyes!

A highly anticipated solar eclipse will take place on August 21.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the sun for a viewer on Earth.

A total solar eclipse will be visible only by persons in specific areas within the United States.

And though persons in Jamaica will not be able to witness a total solar eclipse, our location will provide a spectacular view of the solar event provided there isn’t too much cloud cover.

  

Online eclipse calculators predict that we will see the the moon cover 59.4% of the sun from Kingston, 58.9% from Montego Bay, and 60.2% from Ocho Rios.

But experts warn that looking at the sun or an eclipse with the naked eyes can result in SERIOUS DAMAGE to the eyes. The only way to safely view an eclipse is by wearing approved eye protection.

via FlickrCommons

And Chief Medical Officer, Dr Winston Winston De La Haye is quoted by The Observer as saying:

“It is important that persons refrain from looking at the sun during this period as it can cause permanent damage to the eyes.

“The only way to look directly at the sun when it is eclipsed or is partly eclipsed is with a special solar filter, such as eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer.”

According to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun as they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight. 

Remember: DO NOT Stare at the sun during the Eclipse – Watch the video below to see how the sun damages the eyes.

  

Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE


Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]