A narrow band of land from Texas to Maine will be under a total solar eclipse this afternoon, and in Iowa, the partial eclipse will still be a spectacular sight to behold, if it’s not too cloudy.
Dr. Robert Funk, an ophthalmologist with Gundersen Health System in Waukon, says if you plan to view the event, you’ll absolutely need a pair of ultra-dark eclipse glasses. Many stores are selling special glasses, but Funk says be sure to get some that are ISO-certified.
Dr. Robert Funk (Gundersen photo)
“Unfortunately, even though it may say that it’s certified, it may not be, so it’s hard to know,” Dr. Funk says. “I’d say the best way to know if you’re getting the right glasses is to go to the American Astronomical Society. They have a website that lists vendors that sell certified ISO glasses.”
The last total solar eclipse that was visible in the region was in 2017, for which many Iowans ducked across the border to Missouri or Nebraska. If you still have those eclipse glasses and they’re in good condition, haul them out for today’s show.
“Those should still be good. You want to make sure when you’re looking through the glasses that you really can’t see anything besides the sun,” Funk says. “Those glasses are stronger than any sunglasses. You shouldn’t be using anything besides the eclipse glasses to look at the sun.”
In northwest Iowa, the sun will be about 75-percent covered, while it’ll be more like 90-percent coverage in southeast Iowa. To see the full eclipse, the nearest points are in southern Illinois and southeast Missouri. That path is only about a hundred miles wide. Wherever you view it, be certain to care for your eyes.
“I would just reassure people not to look at the sun with anything other than eclipse glasses,” Funk says. “It can permanently damage the center of your retina, which is the camera film responsible for providing you good vision, so it’s something you really want to take seriously and not mess around with.”
The eclipse will begin in Iowa around 12:40 pm, with the peak around 2 o’clock, and it will end about 3.