MyFOXLA news
written by Pablo Pereira, Meteorologist
Sunday May 20, 2012
Heads up, So Cal: Solar Eclipse Tonight - The moon will partially block 86% of the sun, resulting in a “ring of fire” around the dark disk of the moon.
From Southern California, the moon will not be perfectly centered on the sun. So the 2 1/2-hour eclipse, starting about 5:25 p.m. Sunday, will be partial rather than full.
“From start to finish, it looks like something is taking a bite out of the sun, which keeps getting smaller and smaller,” said Laura Danly, curator at the Griffith Observatory. “It’s a very unusual sight.”
Observers can steal a glance with the naked eye but should not look directly at the sun for more than a second or so.
“Sunglasses are not enough,” Danly said. “You can damage your retinas if you look directly at the sun for any length of time. It’s very risky — it can lead to blindness.”
A free viewing party is scheduled at Griffith Observatory, where telescopes will be set up and staffers will be on hand for the celestial event.
The eclipse will be the first of its kind in about 20 years.
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