BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- A Ferris State University optometry expert is offering some tips on viewing the solar eclipse safely next Monday.
Dr. Daniel Taylor is the dean of the Michigan College of Optometry, which is the only optometry college in the state. He says Michigan is not in the totality of the eclipse.
"The totality is the only place where it's safe to look directly at an eclipse with your naked eye," he said. "And that's because the sun is entirely covered by the moon in the totality."
Dr. Taylor says you can look at the sun directly if you wear certified eclipse glasses. The certified glasses are designated by the International Organization for Standardization with the following number: ISO 12312-2.
The eclipse glasses reduce the strength of the sunlight enough so that it won't harm your eyes.
"And so, that allows you to observe the phenomenon of the eclipse happening in real time by looking up there wearing the glasses," Taylor said.
An alternate way to safely and indirectly view the solar eclipse is by creating a pinhole camera.
"And that basically is two pieces of cardboard. One with a pinhole through it that you set up. And it basically projects the eclipse onto that other piece of cardboard so you can see it indirectly. There's plenty of tutorials online to explain how to do this," he said.
Here is the link to a Ferris State University webpage with more information.
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Photo: Source: Ferris State University