By Greg Halbleib
NORMAL – Although the best place to see the solar eclipse later this month is in Southern Illinois, the local area will have a good view as well.
Dr. Nathan Grau, an associate professor of physics at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and a Livingston County native, said the eclipse will affect sunlight for a short time in Central Illinois.
“(Central Illinois) will be close to totality, which means most of the sun’s light will be blocked,” Grau explained. “It’s probably going to look a little bit dusky. It might look twilight dusk-like what you can see without visual aids.”
Grau said the August 21 eclipse will be noticeable from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. with the peak at about 1:30.
He cautioned against looking at the sun directly. Grau suggested making a viewing device such as a small hole in a piece of cardboard shining onto another piece of cardboard, or even using parts of an old helium balloon.
“Once it’s lasted it’s life, use the balloon, which is made out of mylar, to just cut up pieces and tape that mylar to a set of glasses or maybe some styrofoam,” Grau said. “The mylar is sufficient to block almost all the light from the sun. In fact, I’ve used it on telescopes to view the sun.”
Grau said several web sites show additional safe ways to view the eclipse.
Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].
