For those of us in western Oklahoma, we will have a partial solar eclipse occurring Sunday May 20. To those who might be traveling west, Albuquerque will experience an Annular Eclipse between 7.33 to 7.39 p.m. What is a “solar eclipse” and what is the difference between a “partial” and an “annular” eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens, when the moon crosses between the Sun and the earth. The light of the sun can be “totally” or “partially” blocked out. An “annular solar eclipse” is when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like a ring or an “annulus”.

Even though this will be a partial eclipse for western Oklahoma, eye safety precautions should be taken. Do NOT look directly at the Sun. Unfiltered sunlight will damage your eyes and could cause blindness!

· NEVER look through a telescope or binoculars, or any optical aide or device that magnifies an image, at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse; this would cause PERMANENT BLINDNESS INSTANTLY !

· Blindness can occur rapidly, without any pain, since there are no nerves in the retina of the eyes.Sunglasses do NOT provide sufficient protection and will not prevent eye damage!Only look at the Sun through an approved solar filter.Observe eclipse indirectly for safer viewing.

How do you observe the sun “indirectly”? Have two pieces of paper. Have one on the ground or a table. Have a small pinhole punched in the second paper. It helps if this second paper is thicker like cardstock or cardboard. Stand with your back to the Sun. Hold the second paper/card up so the light from the sun shines on it. The image of the sun will appear on the first piece of paper. See the graphics that NASA has when you Google© “pinhole projector”.