All you need to know ahead of Monday’s solar eclipse

SOUTHEASTERN, NC (WWAY)– All eyes will be on the skies Monday afternoon.  

A solar eclipse is set to darken a portion of the US. 

The Cape Fear is expected to experience 70% to 80% of totality, or the sun covered. 

There are still some things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re planning to look up in the sky to see it. 

“A solar eclipse is where the moon is actually between earth and the sun. A total eclipse is where you have the moon completely in front of the sun,” said Marty Shirah, with the Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach.    

On Monday April 8th, that’s just what we can expect.   

“The eclipse starts Monday around 2:49 pm, and it will continue until about 3:14 pm,” said Shirah.    

The path of totality, which is where 100% of the sun is blocked by the moon, includes cities like Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, and Buffalo.   

The Cape Fear Region will see about 70%-80% of that, giving us a partial eclipse.   

“Now we will not receive total darkness here, but in a lot of cases it will get a little dark when it’s close to being 80%, but it will not reach the totality,” said Shirah.   

Despite not seeing total darkness, it’s still worth looking up.   

Although, it’s still important that you protect your eyes if you’re planning to view the partial eclipse, by wearing eclipse-safe glasses.  

“It’s a big risk to your eye health,” said Bonnie Fanelli, a Wilmington Optometrist. “It can do permanent damage to the retina. We don’t have any sensory receptors in the retina, the touch receptors. So, your retina doesn’t feel anything. So even as you are burning your own eyes, you don’t know it until usually about 12 to 48 hours lately.”   

Fanelli says regular sunglasses, or even welder’s glasses won’t do the trick.   

She says if you don’t have the proper eye wear, then it’s recommended you view the eclipse inside on TV.   

We’ve checked several places, and many retailers in the have sold out of eclipse-approved glasses already.  

While there are some “do-it-yourself” options for making your own eclipse viewers online, experts recommend playing it safe, and leaving the eye protection to professionals.