Total Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024
Eclipse Outreach Kit
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The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas wishes to partner and participate with individuals, groups, schools, towns, and all forms of organizations to celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse. This majestic celestial event will be, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is certain to inspire wonder about our place in the universe. We in North Texas are fortunate to sit on the path of totality, and with this opportunity we will provide education to whoever desires it. Within this outreach kit, you will find in-depth information and ample resources to help you have a successful total solar eclipse viewing. If you have questions about any of the content provided, or require further information regarding the science of eclipses, safety, or planned events, please feel free to reach out to us at info@texasastro.org, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our club’s events, news, and general membership meetings. And of course you can become a member of TAS at texasastro.org. The TAS Eclipse Committee |
Click Here to DOWNLOAD OUTREACH KIT |
Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas |
Eclipse Safety
Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched,
punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow
any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.- Only use eclipse glasses marked as ISO 12312-2 and only from a reputable source. Or, #14 welder's glass.
- Always supervise children using solar filters.
- If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses over them (on top), or hold your handheld solar viewer in front of them.
- Stand still and look down or away from the sun before applying the eclipse glasses.Cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. To remove the solar eclipse glasses after looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
- Do not look at the un-eclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Do not put eclipse glasses behind optical equipment such as binoculars or a telescope.
- Do not look at the sun through the following: x-ray film, old camera
negatives, ordinary sunglasses no matter how dark or UV protected,
CDs, DVDs, etc.
• Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury. - Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics, not the back.
- After you see the first "diamond ring" and during totality (C2), remove the eclipse glasses. And, be sure to reapply the eclipse glasses before totality ends (C3) after the second "diamond ring". The sunlight during a solar eclipse is not worse than normal sunlight. Same thing with a lunar eclipse at night. A lunar eclipse is not harmful at all. Be aware that 1% of the sun is 10,000 times brighter than a full moon (Michael Bakich).
- Some older department store telescopes came with a glass solar filter to add to an eyepiece or to the back of the telescope. Those must never be used. They might crack under the heat and allow harmful light through and cause permanent damage to the retina.
American Astronomical Society: How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely
Pinhole eclipse viewer (solar viewer)
Make Your Own Safe Solar Viewer (SSV)
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Click Here to Download TAS Eclipse Outreach Kit About the Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas
Our annual membership dues are very reasonable and can be paid on-line using the PayPal link listed below. Membership is open to anyone having an interest in Astronomy and the night sky. Please visit the Club Information section for more on TAS. New members can download the New Members Handbook from the Members Only Section of the website. Follow @TASObserveJoin TAS or Renew your MembershipTAS is now 600 members strong....why not become a part of our family? Join TAS or Renew your Membership |
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The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas is a Member Society of the Astronomical League, and is an active participant in the Southwest Region of the Astronomical League |
The Astronomical League is a federation of astronomy clubs with member societies nationwide. The Astronomical League is the World's Largest Federation of Amateur Astronomers.
The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League consists of 28 member societies of the Astronomical League in the states of Texas, New Mexico and western Oklahoma.