Last-Minute Solar Eclipse Info For Morris County Residents

MENDHAM, NJ — In just a few short hours, the country will be able to see the once-in-a-lifetime Great American Solar Eclipse. Everyone living in the continental United States will see a partial eclipse, and those living in the path of totality will see full coverage. Hoping to catch a glimpse? See this last-minute guide (including the weather!) for Morris County residents.

When does it start?

The moon will begin its path over the sun at 1:22:02 p.m., the Morris Museum Astronomical Society said. It'll reach it's midpoint of 73% coverage (the most we'll be able to see in Morris County) at exactly 2:44:28 p.m.. The moon will finish its journey at 4:00:59 p.m., when the sun will be totally uncovered again.

Where can I go to watch it?

Libraries, local observatories and museums are all hosting viewing parties to watch the eclipse. Some still have eclipse glasses, or glasses that can be used on site (one observatory will even have special telescopes set up!). Find a full list of Morris County viewing parties here.

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I don't have eclipse glasses-- can I still watch?

You cannot look at the eclipse with unprotected eyes-- not even at the height of the eclipse. Looking at the sun, even with sunglasses, can cause vision loss and even blindness. If you didn't get ISO-certified eclipse glasses, you can use household items to make a pinhole camera to view the eclipse safely. It takes about ten minutes to make, and can be a fun way to kill time waiting for the eclipse to start. Check out instructions on how here.

If you did buy glasses, make sure they're safe. Some brands sold at Jenkinson's Boardwalk this summer do not meet safety standards; read more about that here.

Another way to watch it is through the environment: if the sky is clear at around 2:45 p.m., stand in a leafy tree’s shadow and look at the ground. The smallest spots of sunlight will make little crescent shapes, showing the sun’s apparent shape as the moon crosses in front.

Welding goggles shade 12 and above are also safe, NASA says. Anything below that will not protect your eyes sufficiently and could still result in damage.

How's the weather going to be?

Morris County might not have the best eclipse viewing weather today. An hour-by-hour forecast by DarkSky.net shows clouds during the eclipse. Many viewing parties in the county are also showing live streams from the path of totality, so you'll be able to catch a glimpse one way or another.

1pm - Mostly Cloudy, 80° Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 7 mph from the WSW.

2pm - Partly Cloudy, 81° Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 7 mph from the SW.

3pm - Mostly Cloudy, 82° Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 7 mph from the SW.

4pm - Partly Cloudy, 84° Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 6 mph from the SW.

5pm - Partly Cloudy, 84° Chance of precipitation: 0%. Wind 6 mph from the SW.

Can I photograph the eclipse?

It's hard to get a great picture using a smartphone camera, even if yours is top of the line. For reference, this reporter tried to photograph a lunar eclipse on an iPhone in 2015 and had dismal results. Compare the iPhone photo to a professional grade camera, and you can see they get better results. Choose a high-quality camera if you have one available to you and want to photograph the solar event.

Many experts recommend putting the phone aside and just enjoying the eclipse, but if you really want to photograph it, check out this smart phone-specific photography guide here.

Anything else I should know?

NASA has been providing information on how to safely watch the eclipse, including how to use eclipse glasses. Read them here:

• Homemade filters or sunglasses are not safe for looking at the sun. Five manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar views meet international standards, and they are Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17 and Baader Planetarium.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing 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, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will 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, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device.

With reporting by Tom Davis (Patch Staff)

Image: In this May 20, 2012, file photo, the annular solar eclipse is seen as the sun sets behind the Rocky Mountains from downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)