Look up (safely) Oct. 14 at partial eclipse
Highland Lakes communities will be in close proximity to the path of an annular eclipse over Texas on Oct. 14. While the astral phenomenon won’t be completely visible in the region, viewers will still see 80-90 percent of it.
An annular eclipse is when the moon passes between Earth and the sun while it is at its farthest point from the planet. During this eclipse, the moon does not completely cover the sun, leaving a shining ring of light peaking from behind its shadow.
An annular eclipse is different from the total solar eclipse that will pass over the Highland Lakes on April 8, 2024, during which the sun will be completely blocked from view.
Highland Lakes residents will experience the effects of the annular eclipse for roughly three hours and seven minutes between 10:22 a.m. and about 1:30 p.m. Oct. 14, which is a Saturday. The height of the celestial event will take place at 11:53 a.m., give or take a minute depending on the viewer’s exact location.
The Highland Lakes is about 30-45 miles from the eclipse’s path of totality, where it can be fully observed. Fredericksburg, San Antonio, and Kerrville are nearby cities that will have complete views.
Current weather forecasts predict that Saturday, Oct. 14, could be cloudy with a slight chance of rain, but the eclipse will still be visible, even with cloud cover.
Texas State Parks holding eclipse viewing events on Oct. 14 include Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The Science Mill in Johnson City and Spider Mountain Bike Park in Burnet are also getting in on the fun.
SAFETY FIRST
While eclipses are beautiful, they can also be dangerous if viewed improperly. The Texas Optometric Association is warning eclipse viewers of the potential risks.
“We are lucky here in Central Texas to be in the line of the 2023 solar eclipse, but we must view carefully and safely,” said Dr. Kumar Patel, TOA president-elect, in a media release. “Texans run the risk of temporary or permanent eye damage, also known as ‘eclipse blindness,’ from viewing the solar eclipse unsafely, and many times people don’t know that damage has happened until much later.”
Guidelines for safe viewing
- Use expert-approved solar eclipse glasses to view a solar eclipse safely and without damaging your eyes. Make sure they meet safety requirements and are manufactured with the ISO 12312-2 standard.
- Use a pinhole projector as a safe, DIY method for viewing (find instructions here). WARNING: The eclipse is meant to be viewed through the projection on the paper. Do not observe the sun through the pinhole itself.
- Wear No. 14 welder’s glasses, which provide effective protection and can be found at a local welder’s supply store.
- Do not view the eclipse with your smartphone. This can damage your device and indirectly expose your eyes to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
- Do not view the eclipse through a camera’s viewfinder. This can damage your eyes in the same way as observing the sun directly.