Observer Training

As an Eclipse Soundscapes Observer you will be out in the field observing on eclipse day! Any time you are in the field, it’s very important that safety is your highest priority. Please review the safety information below. If you took the Apprentice Training, this will be a review. If you did not take the Apprentice Training, it is a good idea to do that before being an Eclipse Soundscapes Observer!

Eye safety is very important during solar eclipses! Sunglasses WILL NOT protect your eyes. You also CANNOT look through a telescope or camera without a special solar filter. If you want to look at the Sun during a solar eclipse you MUST wear special eclipse glasses or use a special eclipse viewer. There is one eclipse safety difference between the total solar eclipse and all the other solar eclipse types. Please keep reading to learn the difference and stay safe!

You CANNOT look at the sun without eclipse glasses or a solar filter during an annular solar eclipse, such as the one on October 14, 2023. There is NO time when it is safe to look directly at the Sun without wearing eclipse glasses or using a special solar filter. 

You must make sure you have official eclipse glasses or the correct solar filter. Please visit the American Astronomical Society website for up-to-date and accurate information on suppliers of safe eclipse glasses and filters. 

A total solar eclipse has 5 phases. There is ONLY one phase when you can remove your eclipse glasses briefly while looking at the Sun. During the maximum phase of a total solar eclipse you can take off your eclipse glasses briefly because the entire Sun is blocked from view. The maximum phase is called totality. Totality is when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun’s bright surface. This happens for only a few minutes during a total solar eclipse. (Eclipse Safety information)

annular eclipse – when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, but appears to be too small to completely block the Sun

maximum phase – the phase of an eclipse when the Moon is lined up with the Sun

partial solar eclipse – when the Moon passes in front of the Sun off-center and does not block the surface

solar filter – a filter added on to a camera or telescope that blocks out most of the Sun’s light to allow the user to look at the Sun

total solar eclipse – when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun completely blocking the Sun from view

Write, draw, or verbally discuss the answers to the following:

• During which phase of a total solar eclipse is it ok to take off your eclipse glasses?
• Is it ever safe to take off your eclipse glasses during an annular eclipse?
• Is it ever safe to take off your eclipse glasses during a partial solar eclipse?
• Who will experience a partial eclipse on October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024?