“The moon is blocking that sun’s rays but for us, because we’re in partial, there is no safe point at all to look at it,” he said, noting that while the rule applies all year round, people worry more about a celestial event more.
An eclipse happens about once every 18 months when the sun, the moon and the earth are in line with one another.
“As the moon is orbiting around the earth, on occasion…that moon positions itself in a spot that essentially is going to block some of the sun’s light,” he said.
While it does happen fairly regularly, the astronomy enthusiast explained it happens in a narrow corridor.
“What makes this sort of thing unique, it’s not something that we will see very often in our lifetime unless we want to travel somewhere.”
In fact, the last time a total eclipse happened, its corridor was right over Estevan and the next won’t appear until 2044.
“That one – Saskatchewan happens to be in the path,” Yaworski said.
The stargazer said while a partial eclipse isn’t on par with a total eclipse, it still is a sight to behold.
“When you’re looking at it with that protective gear, you’re going to see the sun slowly get eaten away like someone taking a bite out of a cookie,” he said.
For those planning on watching the event in the Battlefords and Meadow Lake, Yaworski said since the province is on the far end of the corridor, only about 31 per cent of the sun will be blocked.
That is why it’s so dangerous.
“Normally, on a day like today if you look up at the sun or if you look straight at the sun, it is so bright that your eyes automatically basically say ‘Stop looking at that’ right? And you get that reaction to look away,” he said.
The problem comes because the sun isn’t as bright or intense due to the moon obscuring part of the sun.
“Our natural flight reaction to look away goes away.”
As a result, looking at it for a long period of time will cause irreparable damage. Yaworski explained that ultraviolet radiation is directed to the macula – a part of the retina – and essentially causes a sunburn.
“There’s no pain receptors in the eye. So, no matter what happens to our eyes, there’s no feedback to say we’re doing some damage here,” he said, referring to the retina.
As always, however, the viewing party is weather dependent and if Saskatchewan is lucky, clear skies mean people are in for a treat.
Yaworski however, doesn’t mince words: the goal is to see totality. For one to four minutes, day turns to night, the birds cease to sing and planetary bodies appear and he’s hoping to be a part of it for the first time this spring.
“The difference between a 99 per cent partial eclipse and a total eclipse of the sun? A total eclipse of the sun is like being in the mosh pit at a Taylor Swift concert – live Taylor Swift concert and the 99 per cent partial eclipse is like being in the parking lot, listening to the concert on your car radio,” he said referring to a meme.
Unable to find eclipse glasses? Make your own safety wear. Here’s how: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI1ttQxXt5s
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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com
On X: jls194864
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2024-03-26 23:21:18Z
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