April 5, 2024
When and How to Take Precaution for the Upcoming Solar Eclipse
On the afternoon of Monday, April 8, an extremely rare astronomical event will take place: the first total eclipse in Ontario since 1979. According to the Canadian Space Agency, the total solar eclipse will start in Hamilton at 3:19 p.m. and last for approximately one minute and 50 seconds. Although Toronto is not in the so-called path of totality, people in the city and surrounding area will still see a “deep partial” view of the event.
Things to know:
- Expected to be a near-total solar eclipse between 2:04 p.m. and 4:31 p.m. – with the peak happening at 3:19 p.m. EST.
- It is dangerous to look directly at the sun any time – and especially during an eclipse. This can harm your eyes and even cause permanent damage and loss of sight.
- Only a small area of the Earth is going to be able to see the full solar eclipse and many people go their whole lives without ever viewing one.
How to take precaution:
- Do not look directly at the eclipse without safe solar eclipse viewers or filters that meet international ISO 12312-2.
- Be hypervigilant with children during a solar eclipse. Their eyes let in more light to the retina than adult eyes, so they are at higher risk of harm if they look at the sun without proper eye protection.
- Refrain from using homemade filters, sunglasses, camera lenses, smoked glass, photographic or x-ray film other things that are not specifically made for viewing eclipses.