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Friday, July 28, 2017
6 ways to beat the heat during #OREclipse
6 ways to beat the heat during #OREclipse
Arrive early; stay put; leave late.
Stay cool; stay hydrated; stay informed.
So you’re in a hot car, on hot pavement, in high heat, with a long line of the same in front of you: Not the #OREclipse experience you expected? ODOT and the Oregon Health Authority have some tips to keep you out of that dark place—so you can enjoy the two minutes of dark you came to see.
A real concern for people who aren’t prepared is the possibility of heat-related illnesses. Being stuck in traffic under high heat conditions without enough cold air and cool water could lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke—which can be life threatening.
Now that we’re one month away from the big day, ODOT and OHA have six suggestions to help you beat the heat.
- Stay cool: Make sure your car’s air conditioning is working properly—you may need it in Oregon in August, especially if you’re in central or eastern Oregon.
- Stay hydrated: Make sure you’re traveling with plenty of water for everyone in your car—including your pets.
- Stay informed about your planned travel path: Use www.TripCheck.com and its 400 highway cameras to check travel conditions on your route in real time. Listen to your radio to keep up with the changing temperature, humidity and heat index.
- Avoid traveling at the expected peak times—Sunday and Monday. Treat this 3-hour event like it’s a 3-day event because of the large crowds on the roads: It is NOT anything like a college football game day.
- Have a plan B: Where can you get off the highway to get into air conditioning and refill your water, if necessary?
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses so you can react appropriately at the right time. Visit http://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForExtremeHeat.aspx to read some basic information.
OHA and ODOT want you to have a great time—and a safe time—in the days surrounding the eclipse. We’re doing what we can to keep things as safe as possible. Please remember that you and other travelers have a shared responsibility to keep yourself safe on and off the road.
Plan to have a good time in Oregon during the August #OREclipse. Plan ahead so you can.
For more eclipse travel tips and links, visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Pages/Eclipse.aspx.
Monday, July 24, 2017
How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the
sun. On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible (weather
permitting) across all of North America. The whole continent will experience a
partial eclipse lasting 2 to 3 hours. Halfway through the event, anyone within
a roughly 70-mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe) will
experience a brief total eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s
bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds, turning day into night and making
visible the otherwise hidden solar corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — one of
nature’s most awesome sights. Bright stars and planets will become visible as
well.
Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the
brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely
blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of
totality (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe).
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or
partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as
“eclipse glasses” (example shown at left) or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade
filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking
at the sun. To date four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse
glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard
for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks
Optical, and TSE 17.
- Always
inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it.
Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
Always supervise children using solar filters.
- Stand
still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before
looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and
remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
- Do not
look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered
camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Similarly, do not
look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other
optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer
— the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your
eye(s), causing serious injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer
before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any
other optical device.
- If you
are within the path of totality (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe), remove your solar filter
only when the Moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly
gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun
begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining
partial phases.
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By
following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded
with memories to last a lifetime.
This document does not constitute medical advice. Readers
with questions should contact a qualified eye-care professional.
Additional Safety Information
An eclipse is a rare and striking phenomenon you won't want
to miss, but you must carefully follow safety procedures. Don't let the requisite
warnings scare you away from witnessing this singular spectacle! You can
experience the eclipse safely, but it is vital that you protect your eyes at
all times with the proper solar filters. No matter what recommended technique
you use, do not stare continuously at the sun. Take breaks and give your eyes a
rest! Do not use sunglasses: they don't offer your eyes sufficient protection.
One excellent resource for safe solar eclipse viewing is here: http://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse(link
is external)
Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that
one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is number 14 welder's glass.
It is imperative that the welding hood houses a #14 or darker filter. Do not
view through any welding glass if you do not know or cannot discern its shade
number. Be advised that arc welders typically use glass with a shade much less
than the necessary #14. A welding glass that permits you to see the landscape
is not safe. Inexpensive eclipse glasses have special safety filters that
appear similar to sunglasses, but these do permit safe viewing.
Telescopes with Solar Filters – Eclipses are
best viewed directly when magnified, which means a telescope with a solar
filter or solar telescopes. These will give you a magnified view that will
clearly show the progress of an eclipse. Never look through a telescope without
a solar filter on the large end of the scope. And never use small solar filters
that attach to the eyepiece (as found in some older, cheaper telescopes.)
Pinhole projectors (link is external) -- Pinhole projectors and other projection techniques are a safe, indirect viewing technique for observing an image of the sun. These provide a popular way for viewing solar eclipses.
Related projection methods -- One viewing
technique is to project an image of the sun onto a white surface with a
projecting telescope. This is explained further here: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/05/stars2.html(link
is external).
The Exploratorium demonstrates how to view a planet in transit or an eclipse safely by projecting the image with binoculars: http://www.exploratorium.edu/transit/how.html(link is external). There are commercially available projection telescopes as well.
The Exploratorium demonstrates how to view a planet in transit or an eclipse safely by projecting the image with binoculars: http://www.exploratorium.edu/transit/how.html(link is external). There are commercially available projection telescopes as well.
Monday, July 3, 2017
Hiking Tips
Many roads leading to key vantage points on public lands may be closed to motorized traffic during the eclipse for safety and capacity reasons, vantage points may only be accessible by foot.
Practice Good Stewardship of our Trails / Roadways:
You can help to take good care of our trails and roadways so that others may enjoy these areas for years to come by practicing some of the following actions:
- Don't Litter... take along a trash bag or other receptacle for collecting your trash so that you can deposit it in the proper trash receptacle.
- Make sure that you hike / walk on the designated trail or roadway in that area. Check with your destination ahead of time to ensure that the area you plan to hike in is allowed.
- Don't hike in areas where it is not permitted. These areas have been declared "off limits" to hikers to protect wildlife, vegetation, or for your safety.
Safety While Hiking:
- Wear proper clothing and footwear, according to the terrain and season
- Be courteous and remember that you are sharing the trail or roadway with other hikers and recreationists
- Do not hike or walk on unauthorized trails or roadways
- Bring along extra safety items such as water, flashlights, maps, and a cellphone or radio
How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely
Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe (link is external)).
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” (example shown at left) or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. To date four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.
- Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter. Always supervise children using solar filters.
- Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
- Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
If you are within the path of totality (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe (link is external)), remove your solar filter only when the Moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases.
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime. More information:
eclipse.aas.org (link is external) eclipse2017.nasa.gov
Courtesy of https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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