Keeping your eyes safe while viewing the annular solar eclipse

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — This Saturday, thousands of people will visit Albuquerque to see an annular solar eclipse.

The Duke City is one of a few directly in the path of the eclipse. Here is when it will happen:

• Eclipse begins at 9:13 a.m.
• “Ring of Fire” in the sky at 10:34-10:39 a.m.
• Eclipse ends at 12:09 p.m.

That Ring of Fire happens at the peak of the eclipse when the moon is mostly blocking the view of the sun.

Alissa Irons, a VSP Network optometrist at Blink Albuquerque, says you should not look directly at the eclipse, as it can have these permanent effects:

• Color distortion
• Blurry spot in your vision
• Loss of vision

“You’ll want to avoid camera lenses, binoculars and telescopes, you can wear these ISO-certified glasses,” Irons said. “Then, one of the safest ways, of course, is to go to a planetarium where they might be showing it or even watch it on TV.”

Even if you have a pair of those ISO-certified glasses, you’ll still want to check them.

“Make sure that you are wearing ISO-certified glasses but that they’re not damaged or torn or scratched in any way. If they are, throw them away and get a new pair,” Irons stated.

There are a number of places offering a free pair of those glasses, including Blink Albuquerque.

If you don’t get a pair by Saturday, there are several viewing parties offering glasses. Click here to view the full list we have of all the viewing parties across our state.