For the Aug. 21 solar eclipse what’s it going to be like for us here in Lake Charles?

Southwest Louisiana will experience a partial eclipse, with the moon covering about 70 percent of the sun, according to an interactive NASA map.

The eclipse will begin in Lake Charles at about 11:50 a.m. Monday and will reach its maximum at about 1:20 p.m. It will end at about 2:50 p.m. The times for nearby towns and cities will vary by a few minutes.

A total eclipse last passed across the contiguous United States on June 8, 1918, darkening the late afternoon sky over Southwest Louisiana much more than will Monday’s eclipse.

“Tomorrow afternoon at 5 o’clock the eclipse of the sun will give every one an opportunity to get out and view the heavens for something besides aeroplanes. For a short time the birdmen of Gerstner field will be literally eclipsed by the sun, but just for a few minutes. …” reads a story printed the day beforehand in the Lake Charles American-Press.

“The eclipse will not be quite a total eclipse so far as Lake Charles is concerned, but it will be so close that the average person will never know the difference. It is even expected to fool the chickens — feathered variety, of course — so don’t be surprised if you see them going to bed an hour or so earlier Saturday.”

Safety

In jointly produced safety guidelines, NASA, the American Astronomical Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and similar groups note that “the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters.”

But the groups say that people should be sure their filters — which include eclipse glasses and hand-held solar viewers — comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

Eclipse-viewing safety information, from the groups’ guidelines:

“Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it.”

“Always supervise children using solar filters.”

“If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.”

“Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.”

“Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.”

“Similarly, do not look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.”

“Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.”

For a list of reputable suppliers of glasses and filters visit https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.

Public library

Calcasieu Parish Public Library spokeswoman Christy Comeaux said in a news release Tuesday that people who picked up eclipse glasses from library branches should discard them because “they may not be suitable for use during the eclipse.”

Library officials received notice that the glasses may be defective, and “we don’t want to take any chances in harming any of our patrons. We do apologize for any inconvenience,” Comeaux said.

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For more info: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.