Alexandria Solar Eclipse: Photos and Recap

ALEXANDRIA, VA —The solar eclipse, one of the most anticipated events of the summer—and arguably the century—made its way through Alexandria Monday afternoon. A partial solar eclipse was visible to Alexandria and the rest of Northern Virginia between 1:17 p.m. and 4:01 p.m. on Aug. 21.

This is the first time a solar eclipse was visible across the U.S. since 1918, and Northern Virginia saw about 81 percent of the sun covered by the moon.

There were numerous eclipse watching parties happening around Alexandria and around Virginia. Area residents could view the solar eclipse before clouds began to cover the sun around 3 p.m.See below for some images from around Alexandria.

Where did you watch the solar eclipse from? Share your eclipse photos with Patch on Facebook.

Guide to the Solar Eclipse in Alexandria

What time will it happen, and how much of the sun will be covered? On Aug. 21 at about 2:42 p.m., about 80 percent of the sun will be covered up by the moon in the Alexandria area. Some part of the sun will be covered from 1:17 p.m. until 4:01 p.m.

Why is this such a big deal? It will be the first total solar eclipse to pass through the continental United States in 38 years. The next one will happen just seven years from now in 2024.

SEE ALSO:

• Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Best Spots To See It In Virginia, DC
  
• Total Solar Eclipse: Where To Watch It In Del Ray

What's the weather forecast looking like for that day? Hopefully the skies can stay clear, at least when the solar eclipse is visible on the East Coast. But it looks like thunderstorms may be in the forecast after 2 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, Northern Virginia has a 40 percent chance of precipitation.

See What Happens During A Total Solar Eclipse

What is Alexandria doing in advance of the event?

Alexandria residents can watch the solar eclipse at Dental Excellence (3116 Mount Vernon Avenue). The event runs 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. RSVP for the event by Aug. 15 by calling 703-745-5496 or emailing care@dentalexcellenceva.com.

If you can't make it to the viewing party, NASA will be live streaming the eclipse here.

What should I know about safety during the eclipse? Even during an eclipse, you should never, ever, ever look at the sun directly, as it will cause permanent damage to your eyes. The only exception is the few moments when the sun is completely covered by the moon in the "band of totality." Since we aren't located in the band of totality, that doesn't apply to us.

Special glasses are available to view the sun during the eclipse. Only use those, or a pinhole projector, to view the solar eclipse.

Where can I get these special glasses? Beginning on Aug. 14, Eye2eye Optometry Corner (1502 Mt Vernon Ave) will be giving out a limited supply of free solar eclipse viewing glasses. These glasses are important to avoid severe eye damage while watching the eclipse. You should never stare directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, without special glasses.

If you'd like to just order them, they're available on Amazon for about $15 each. However, be warned: some glasses are counterfeit or at least simply not certified for eclipse viewing, and you could damage your eyes by using them.

Just because they're stamped with an ISO seal, indicating they comply with standards set by the International Organization for Standardization, that doesn't mean they're safe as anyone can put that stamp on them. Reports have emerged that companies have been printing the ISO logo and certification label on fake eclipse glasses to make a quick buck. Some are even putting falsified test results on their websites. The American Astronomical Society has posted a list of vendors that are approved to produce eclipse glasses.

Patch Editor Dan Taylor contributed to this report.

Image via NASA