By Mary O’KEEFE

The last time it was seen here was February 1979. That was the last time the moon crossed in front of the sun, totally blocking it out in some areas. There are often two eclipses somewhere in the world during a calendar year, sometimes there are as many as five, but that is unusual. So why is the one on Aug. 21 such a big deal? Location, location, location.

“It has been since 1979 that [an eclipse] has touched the U.S.,” said Bill Owen, navigation engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “It is a big deal.”

And that is why school students, teachers, astronomers and everyday stargazers are giddy.

A solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and earth. It blocks all or part of the sun, depending on where a person is viewing it. The U.S. path the eclipse will travel on Aug. 21 is from Charleston, South Carolina to Salem, Oregon. According to NASA, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds.

In the Los Angeles area, the beginning stages of the eclipse will be at 9:05 a.m. The maximum eclipse will be at 10:21 a.m. and by 11:44 a.m. it will be over.

“[Those in] Los Angeles will see 62% of the sun’s diameter covered,” Owen said. “The sun will look like a banana. It won’t get all the way dark, it will be subdued sunlight.”

Crescenta Valley students will join others across the nation as teachers take advantage of this historic event. Rosemont Middle School, as well as local elementary schools, has plans to educate and look to the sky – safely. The schools have supplies of “eclipse glasses” and, for those not in school, glasses can be purchased online.

“If they get to you on time,” Owen warned.

Recently it has been discovered that some companies are offering eclipse glasses that do not meet safety standards. Owen stressed it is important that eclipse glasses must be ISO certified.

The American Astronomical Society has released a list of trusted manufacturers that make ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses and filters. Find this list at the end of the article.

Sunglasses, no matter how dark, will not protect eyes when looking into the eclipse.

“[Looking into the eclipse] burns the retina. It is the infrared that will come through,” Owen said. “The retina does not have nerve cells, so [you will] feel no pain.” He added that eyes will not “burn through” – that is, there won’t be a hole in the eye – but it can damage eyesight.

“You will notice there is a spot where you can’t see anymore,” he said.

Those who have the “fake” eclipse glasses, but still think they will work, are taking a chance, a chance he said he would not be willing to take.

Owen is looking forward to the eclipse, which he will be viewing from Salem, Oregon at the amphitheater at Oregon’s fairgrounds. He is hoping for clear skies.

“I have been in the shadow of the moon twice; once it was cloudy, so I am hoping this will be two for three,” Owen said.

He added that he was grateful to get tickets for the fairgrounds admission.

“I heard it was sold out in the span of an hour,” he said.

The amphitheater seats over 8,500 people. Owen said is looking forward to the communal feel of the event.

“Just the sight and the sounds of people,” he said. “It will be really amazing to hear 8,500 people ‘oooh,’ ‘ahh’ and gasp when [the eclipse occurs].”

The American Astronomical Society will be using equipment to track the eclipse across the country, and will be producing a film of the event.

Some others who will be watching the eclipse closely will be those in the utility business. In the past 38 years, the U.S. has increased its use, and dependence, on solar power, which will be affected by the sun being blocked, but how much will be affected is not yet known.

Glendale Water and Power and Southern California Edison have let their customers know there may be some issues during the eclipse.

“The Southland will experience a partial solar eclipse on Aug. 21 that will affect Southern California Edison’s service territory, obscuring 58% to 76% of the sun’s light for about three hours in the morning,” stated the SCE website.

It added that it should not impact the daily activities of customers but “the California Independent System Operator staff responsible for balancing the flow of power on the state’s electrical grid [began] planning for the event began months ago.”

“We don’t think our customers will be affected,” said Steve Zurn, general manager of Glendale Water and Power. He is confident GWP will be able to makeup for whatever power is lost due to the eclipse. Workers will be watching for any solar surge, too.

“[The California Public Utilities Commission] estimates 4200 megawatts will be in jeopardy with the solar in play,” Zurn said. “That’s a lot of energy.”

At this time GWP is not overly dependent upon solar power; however, there is little doubt that will change in the future, which is why Zurn and many others in charge of powering cities will be watching the power monitors as closely as the eclipse.

“It will be very interesting to see how this comes out,” he said.

Solar Viewer Brands suggested by the American Astronomical Society

• American Paper Optics (Eclipser) / EclipseGlasses.com / 3dglassesonline.com

• APM Telescopes (Sunfilter Glasses)*

• Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold Film)* [see note 1]

• Celestron (EclipSmart Glasses & Viewers)

• DayStar (Solar Glasses)

• Explore Scientific (Solar Eclipse Sun Catcher Glasses)

• Halo Solar Eclipse Spectacles

• Jaxy Optical Instrument Co., Ltd.* [see note 2]

• Lunt Solar Systems (SUNsafe SUNglasses) [see their unique kid-size eclipse glasses]

• Meade Instruments (EclipseView Glasses & Viewers)

• Rainbow Symphony (Eclipse Shades)

• Seymour Solar (Helios Glasses)

• Solar Eclipse International / Cangnan County Qiwei Craft Co.*

• Thousand Oaks Optical (Silver-Black Polymer & SolarLite)

TSE 17 / 110th.de (Solar Filter Foil)*

On Aug. 21, 2017, sky-gazers in North America will have a chance to see one of the most stellar celestial events visible from Earth: a total eclipse of the sun!

Find out everything you need to know about how to safely* watch the eclipse and learn about the history and mystery surrounding these rare events on NASA’s Eclipse 2017 website.

Want to see what the eclipse will look like where you live? Or better yet, find the best spot to watch the eclipse? Check out NASA’s Eclipse 2017 visualization tool, which lets you explore the view from any location in the world.

  Mary Okeefe