Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – March 11, 2024 – How Do I Stay Safe During the Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse?

Mayor's Mailbag
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Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – March 11, 2024QUESTION:"How do I stay safe during the upcoming total solar eclipse in Burlington on April 8?”ANSWER:A total solar eclipse will be taking place on April 8, 2024 and will be visible across North America. The path of the eclipse will pass through multiple provinces, including Ontario. In Burlington, the solar eclipse is expected to start at 2:04 p.m. and continue until 4:31 p.m. Full coverage of the sun by the moon will pass over Burlington at approximately at 3:18 p.m. and end at 3:19 p.m. It is recommended to add buffer time before and after in planning for added safety.Looking at the sun without special protection may cause damage to your retinas from radiation (solar retinopathy). If you look at the sun during an eclipse, you will not feel pain and your eyes’ protective mechanisms will not adequately protect you (for example your blinking reflex). Precautions are required for the entire duration of the eclipse -- that's from 2:04-4:31 p.m.Here are some safety precautions and considerations to help prepare you for the solar eclipse:

  • Do not look directly at the sun! Do not look indirectly at the sun using a window or mirror reflection;
  • Where possible, schedule tasks indoors during the eclipse, to reduce the likelihood of looking at the sun;
  • If driving, continue as normal and avoid looking at the sun – depending on the sun position, use hats/shades/visors that don’t allow any visible light to pass through;
  • Don’t drive while wearing eclipse glasses;
  • During a Solar Eclipse, the environment will darken like dawn or dusk – prepare for distracted drivers/people. Where applicable, ensure adequate lighting and wear high-visibility clothing appropriate for low-light conditions. If driving, have headlights turned ON for entire duration;
  • Regular sunglasses are not nearly adequate to protect your eyes while looking directly at the sun. Do not use a camera, a telescope, binoculars, translucent shades/visors or any other optical device to look at the sun. These devices are not safe for eclipse viewing, and the concentrated solar ray can cause retinal burns; and
  • Special glasses can be worn for safe eclipse viewing. It’s important that they are validated and tested by a properly accredited laboratory to meet the requirements of ISO 12312-2:2015. Please note, there’s a significant number of counterfeit glasses being sold as “ISO 12312-2:2015 compliant or certified.” If you choose to view the eclipse in your off-hours, ensure your glasses are authentic and purchased from a reputable vendor.

If you are going to be outdoors during the duration of the eclipse, be sure to use caution -  it’s important to take the necessary precautions detailed above to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.SPECIAL ECLIPSE SAFETY GLASSESThe Burlington Public Library, in partnership with McMaster University's Department of Astrology, is distributing special eclipse safety glasses at all of its branches -- while supplies last. Along with the glasses, they will have a double-sided handout for those who are interested in viewing tips and it will also feature eclipse-related BPL programs and resources.The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project is also selling special eclipse safety glasses on its website.The project aims to raise awareness about the conservation of Monarch Butterflies while providing individuals a safe way to witness the awe-inspiring event of the total solar eclipse. The project offers ISO Certified solar eclipse glasses for sale, and 20% of the gross sales will be donated back to the partnering organization, while 100% of the net profit will go to The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Foundation. Interestingly, the project notes the migration of the endangered monarch butterfly mirrors the path of the total eclipse.

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