Solar Eclipse and ring of fire may 20 2012
Astronomers from across the U.S. are flocking to Albuquerque just to take in the solar eclipse, but for thousands of amateurs here are some tips to help you enjoy the event known as the 'ring of fire'. "The disk of the moon is smaller than the disk of the sun so for our location here in Albuquerque, we'll see a perfect ring around the moon," said Dee Friesen President of the Albuquerque Astronomical Society.
Friesen explained he's had hundreds of astronomers RSVP to viewing events and they are from all over the nation. Thousands of people are also flocking to the city just to watch.
One man KRQE News 13 spoke to says he drove 16 hours from Texas just to catch a glimpse.
Onlookers will have to be careful. Looking at direct sunlight, especially when it's intensified by an eclipse can scorch your retina. Retinas don't have pain receptors so damage sets in quickly.
The eclipse starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and peaks at 7:33 p.m.
Bernalillo County expects about 3,000 people at it's event at Mesa Del Sol. The will also be teaching kids how to build pinhole cameras and there will be movie screens set up for every to view the eclipse without glasses.
"We have 2,000 pairs of glasses, and we're going to start giving those out about 4 p.m., so if you want some you better get here a little early," Commissioner Wayne Johnson.
Viewers can use welder's goggles but they must be rated 14 or higher. There have also been tint shops selling window tint to make glasses, but not all of them are safe. The tests is, if you hold up the tint to a light bright bulb and you can see the bulb, the tint is not dark enough.
Officials are also discouraging people from going to the top Sandia Crest to watch eclipse. They are worried about parking and fire issues.
Friesen explained he's had hundreds of astronomers RSVP to viewing events and they are from all over the nation. Thousands of people are also flocking to the city just to watch.
One man KRQE News 13 spoke to says he drove 16 hours from Texas just to catch a glimpse.
Onlookers will have to be careful. Looking at direct sunlight, especially when it's intensified by an eclipse can scorch your retina. Retinas don't have pain receptors so damage sets in quickly.
The eclipse starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and peaks at 7:33 p.m.
Bernalillo County expects about 3,000 people at it's event at Mesa Del Sol. The will also be teaching kids how to build pinhole cameras and there will be movie screens set up for every to view the eclipse without glasses.
"We have 2,000 pairs of glasses, and we're going to start giving those out about 4 p.m., so if you want some you better get here a little early," Commissioner Wayne Johnson.
Viewers can use welder's goggles but they must be rated 14 or higher. There have also been tint shops selling window tint to make glasses, but not all of them are safe. The tests is, if you hold up the tint to a light bright bulb and you can see the bulb, the tint is not dark enough.
Officials are also discouraging people from going to the top Sandia Crest to watch eclipse. They are worried about parking and fire issues.
