Special glasses needed to prevent severe and permanent damage to eyes during eclipse

On August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will sweep across North America. Such a natural phenomenon is rare and the next occurrence will not take place until 2024.

In Prince William, the moon will begin to eclipse the sun at 1:17 p.m. Although the total eclipse will not be visible at our location on Earth, by 2:42 p.m. the moon will block 81 percent of the sun and we will have the privilege of experiencing a breath-taking sight - a partial solar eclipse.

The PWCS Office of Student Learning and the Irene V. Hylton Planetarium remind everyone that extreme caution must be taken while viewing a solar eclipse. Looking at the sun, even if partially blocked, without special glasses can cause severe and permanent damage to the eyes.

Please note that using regular sunglasses or viewing eclipse through a cell phone will not provide sufficient protection.

Every Prince William County school has been provided with informational flyers for safe viewing and a limited number of certified eclipse glasses to be distributed to our community on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the news release. Additional supplies are available at the Irene V. Hylton Planetarium, at Hylton High School, while they last.

For additional interactive information about the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse, go to http://blandy.virginia.edu/education/2017-solar-eclipse For q.uestions, comments, and/or concerns, contact Julia Renberg, Supervisor of Science Education, at 703-791-7240 or Tony Kilgore, Director of Irene V. Hylton Planetarium, at 703-580-4000.