A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Wichita skies on Saturday. How to view it safely

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in the Wichita area for part of the day on Saturday.

The “ring of fire” eclipse will peak at 11:47 a.m. in Wichita and last about three hours. It is expected to begin at 10:21 a.m. and end at 1:19 p.m, according to the National Weather Service.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the earth. In an annular eclipse, the moon looks smaller than the sun, creating a “ring of fire” look. The last annular eclipse that could be viewed in the United States was in May 2012.

How to view the eclipse safely

Before stepping outside to view the eclipse, it’s important to take safety precautions to prevent possible damage from viewing the sun.

While an eclipse blocks out parts of the sun, it’s still not safe to view any of the sun directly, NASA says. Instead, you should wear special eye protection. Even viewing the sun through a camera lens or binoculars is dangerous without a solar filter.

The only time you can view a eclipse directly is during a full one when the moon has completely blocked out the sun. But during a partial one, like the one we’re having on Saturday, it is never safe to view it without the proper protection.

The American Astronomical Society has a list of approved manufacturers selling solar eclipse glasses. They don’t recommend purchasing the glasses on sites like Amazon and Ebay, as those may not have been thoroughly tested. Home Depot and Lowe’s are both selling solar eclipse glasses in Wichita, and other stores may be as well.

Although a Forbes article said public libraries will pass out solar eclipse glasses, Wichita’s public library made a social media post on Thursday saying they will not distribute glasses on Saturday.

How to view the eclipse indirectly

If you don’t have access to solar filters or proper solar eye wear, there are ways to view the eclipse indirectly.

NASA recommends using a pinhole projector. You can create your own pinhole projector by poking a hole in a sheet of paper, like an index card. The sunlight will shine through the hole and create a shadow of the eclipse on the ground.

Another way is to create a projector with a cardboard box, white sheet of paper, aluminum foil, tape and scissors.

First, tape the white paper on the inside end of the box. Then on the other end, cut out part of it and cover it with aluminum foil with a small hole poked out. On the other side of that end, cut out a section to view from.

To view the eclipse, look through the viewpoint and face away from the sun. The sunlight will hit the small hole in the aluminum foil and create a shadow on the white paper inside the box.

The next total solar eclipse is expected April 4, 2024. The next annular eclipse that can be seen in the U.S. is expected June 24, 2039, according to NASA.