On April 8th, 2024 parts of southern and eastern Ontario, including Grey Bruce, will be treated to a rare cosmic event that hasn’t happened since 1925; a total solar eclipse will block the sunlight and thrust the region into partial darkness for approximately 2.5 hours!
We know it's going to look spectacular, but please don't stare directly at the sun when the eclipse happens! Looking directly at the Sun, without appropriate eye protection, can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight.
The public may have many questions about how to safely view the solar eclipse, so we’ve compiled these Frequently Asked Questions, printable and sharable graphic assets, and trustworthy external resources to help residents educate and prepare themselves for a show like no other.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon’s orbit positions it directly between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the view of the Sun over a small part of Earth and plunging the area into momentary darkness.
While solar eclipses are relatively common, total solar eclipses are rare and tend to draw many people to the so-called Path of Totality.
On April 8, 2024, parts of southern and eastern Ontario will experience a total solar eclipse for the first time since 1925.
Grey-Bruce will be outside of the Path of Totality – the narrow area where the moon will completely block out the sun – but will still experience a partial eclipse.
The eclipse is expected to begin around 2 p.m. and continue until roughly 4:30 p.m. The largest part of the sun will be blocked out at around 3:20 p.m.
Yes.
In fact, it’s never safe to stare directly at the sun without proper eye protection.
However, the temptation to look at the sun may be higher during a total solar eclipse. Looking at even a small sliver of the sun before or after the eclipse without proper eye protection can harm your vision.
Looking directly at the Sun at any time, including during an eclipse, without adequate eye protection can damage the retina or cause blurred vision, and/or loss of eyesight. Blinding damage can occur without any sensation of pain. The injury can be temporary or permanent.
No.
Regular sunglasses or ski goggles will not protect your eyes during a solar eclipse. It is also not safe to view the eclipse through a camera/phone lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
Only glasses with specialized filters that adhere to the ISO 12312-2 international standard can adequately protect your eyes while watching a solar eclipse. These glasses should be carefully inspected for wrinkles or scratches before use and should not be used if damaged. Ensure that eclipse glasses fully cover your entire field of vision.
Watching the eclipse on a LiveStream broadcast or observing it through an eclipse box are also safe ways to witness the eclipse.
You should speak with an eye care professional or health care provider as soon as possible if you or a loved one watches the eclipse and, as a result, experiences temporary vision loss or blurred vision.
If you are experiencing blindness after viewing the eclipse (immediate or delayed), seek emergency care immediately.
To access additional resources related to the eclipse, please check out the following:
Sources: Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, Canadian Association of Optometrists.
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