- Even during a total solar eclipse, exposure to harmful UV rays can cause sunburn.
- A total window that completely obscures the sun will only last for a maximum of four minutes.
- Wear sunscreen when viewing the total solar eclipse on Monday.
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If you’re planning to view the total solar eclipse on Monday, be sure to wear sunscreen.
We hope you’ve already made plans to protect your eyes from the sun, such as wearing ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses. But during the hour or two you spend watching the moon creep in front of the sun, you should also be thinking about your skin.
“Levels of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation are low only during short total solar eclipses, which occur during narrow total solar eclipses when the sun is completely blocked by the moon,” says Kristin Byrd, professor of molecular genetics. says. The Ohio State University, which studies melanoma and aging, told Business Insider via email ahead of the last total solar eclipse in the United States in 2017.
Even if you’re hoping to peek through the clouds at the eclipse, sunscreen is essential. This is because invisible ultraviolet rays penetrate through clouds.
The total safe window lasts only four minutes at most. After that, “unblocked UV rays become more intense and can easily cause sunburn,” Byrne said.
Don’t let a sunburn ruin your eclipse experience.
Sally Ancombe/Getty Images
If you’re just going outside for a few minutes to watch the partial solar eclipse, which varies in timing and size across the country, you may be able to avoid lathering up sunscreen.
According to Mark Littman and Fred Espenek, authors of “A Total Solar Eclipse,” there are a few other things you should bring with you if you’re planning on viewing a total solar eclipse.Totality: Great American solar eclipse in 2017 and 2024. ”
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It’s a pinhole camera.
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A colander or straw hat that can project solar eclipses through holes in paper or cardboard.
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insect repellent spray
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Snacks — it will be late afternoon, after all
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Binoculars — for pointing at paper
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Sunglasses (not for viewing the solar eclipse)
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Solar eclipse glasses and solar eclipse filters – for viewing the solar eclipse
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Camera equipment for taking photos of the solar eclipse
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A notebook to write down what you observe.
Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer contributed to an earlier version of this post.