On Monday, August 21, 2017, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, casting its shadow across all of North America. This is nature's most wonderous spectacle - a total eclipse of the Sun. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States in 38 years. It is a scene of unimaginable beauty; the Moon completely blocks the Sun, daytime becomes a deep twilight, and the Sun’s corona shimmers in the darkened sky. It is estimated that this total eclipse may be witnessed by over 100 million people. The image below depicts the expected path of the total solar eclipse.eclipse.

While Arkansas will not experience a total eclipse, it is expected that the Moon will block about 90% of the Sun during the middle of the eclipse. This is called a partial eclipse. It is estimated that the eclipse will begin at approximately 11:48 am (in Central Arkansas) and will last until about 2:46 pm. The middle of the eclipse, or the time the maximum amount of sun is covered, will occur around 1:20 pm. 

Because the eclipse in Arkansas is not total, eye protection is necessary to view the eclipse. Why will Arkansans need eye protection? A total solar eclipse is about as bright as the full Moon — and just as safe to look at. But the Sun at any other time is dangerously bright; view it only through special-purpose “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun. (Credit: Mark Margolis / Rainbow Symphony)

A view of the United States during the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, showing the umbra (black oval), penumbra (concentric shaded ovals), and path of totality (red) through or very near several major cities.

The partially eclipsed Sun, photographed through a telephoto lens capped with a special-purpose solar filter. The Moon covers 93% of the Sun's diameter and about 91% of its area. (Credit: Rick Fienberg / TravelQuest International / Wilderness Travel)

This photo approximates what Central Arkansas is expected to experience during the middle of the eclipse.

A total solar eclipse is about as bright as the full Moon — and just as safe to look at. But the Sun at any other time is dangerously bright; view it only through special-purpose “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun. (Credit: Jay M. Pasachoff)

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” (example shown at left) or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun. Eclipser Safe Solar Glasses are lab tested and meet the new ISO 12312-2 requirements. 

© 2017 CustomXM