ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The western United States and eastern Asia is expected to be dazzled by a solar spectacle Sunday when the moon slides across the sun creating a “ring of fire.”
But scientists are cautioning viewers to either wear protective eyewear or attend planned viewing events to avoid risk of eye injury.
In California, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers will hold two sponsored events for the general public to safely watch the solar eclipse using specially equipped telescopes.
San Juan College Planetarium in Farmington, N.M., just off the Navajo Reservation, will have two telescopes with solar filters set up to view the eclipse starting at 6 p.m.
Fred Espenak, an eclipse expert at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said filters are needed because the ring of sunlight will be blindingly bright.
