Russians will be able to see a total solar eclipse on August 12 that will last several hours, according to Perm Polytechnic astronomer Yevgeny Burmistrov. Burmistrov told Gazeta.Ru how people can safely observe the event.
The eclipse will start at 17:34 and reach its peak at 20:46, when the Moon will completely cover the solar disk for 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Burmistrov warned that the shadow of the Moon will move across Earth from west to east at about one kilometer per second, causing the sky to look different depending on the region.
Burmistrov advised viewers to choose open terrain in the northwest, where the sky will remain bright as the Sun begins hiding behind the Moon and sinks toward the horizon. He said visibility will be best in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Petrozavodsk, Pskov, and Saint Petersburg.
Eye protection methods
Looking at the sky with unprotected eyes during the eclipse is dangerous, Burmistrov emphasized. Radiation of that intensity can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina without causing any pain, so viewers must wear certified sunglasses or use specialized optics.
Specialists also recommend watching the eclipse through binoculars or a telescope fitted with a certified solar filter, or projecting the image of the Sun through a small hole onto a sheet of paper. Regular sunglasses, smoked glass, CDs, X-ray films, and colored film will not protect eyes properly.
