The nation is gearing up for the total solar eclipse on April 8, and excitement and anticipation fill the air. While concerns about weather might dominate a conversation at home, another thing that has caught attention is safety due to appropriate eyewear.
Influx of visitors raises concerns
With millions of people expected to travel from all parts of the country to witness this rare event, small towns like Bell County in central Texas are busy preparing for an unprecedented surge in population.
What is their biggest fear? Traffic jams. The county’s emergency management coordinator, Bob Reinhard, explains how traffic can be kept moving smoothly, particularly along major highways such as Interstate 35.
Among other things, Bell County declared a local state of disaster and mandated registration of private property landowners planning events with over 50 attendees in order to manage increased demand. This preventive measure will ensure preparedness and safety when visitors increase.
Ensuring safe viewing
One way to ensure that an individual views the eclipse safely is through certified eyewear that protects one’s eyes from harmful solar radiation.
As American Paper Optics CEO John Jerit states, buying glasses from reputable manufacturers based locally is essential. Counterfeit products are flooding the market; however, Jerit company’s ISO sets itself apart by providing safe glasses.
It means a lot because organizations similar to NASA have received thousands of these glasses before when supplied by him, showing his commitment to supplying only reliable eyewear during this celestial occurrence.
Awe and Wonder await
Terry Virts says it will be amazing for those lucky enough to see it happen live. As he describes it coming closer over time until finally reaching totality where darkness enveloped everything else, former NASA astronaut Terry Virts provides insights into what viewers should expect.
He also tells them that glasses are crucial at this time to avoid damaging their eyes; thus, they should not look directly into the sun.
Also, it is worth noting what Virts says about cloudy conditions: he nonetheless insists that even when obscured by clouds, it would still be an extraordinary occurrence with darkness covering our place.
A teachable moment for generations to come
Besides being a mere spectacle, the eclipse serves as a reminder of how vast and mysterious our universe is.
For Jose M. Hernandez, an ex-astronaut from NASA, this event can serve as an inspiration to young people who would like to become future astronauts themselves.
Hernandez believes his interaction with school kids during the eclipse will greatly influence their interest and curiosity in learning about space.
The nation waits with bated breath for the total solar eclipse to occur as final arrangements are made and excitement mounts. Small towns poised for an increase in human traffic need only certified goggles to view it safely.
All is set for a tremendous astral event that will take everybody’s fancy, from the need of small cities to preparing for many people who will come to individuals’ use of licensed eyeglasses when observing a similar astronomical occurrence.