In a sense, it seems like we’ve heard this message enough.

But the unfortunate fact is that somewhere in North America on Monday, April 8, 2024, eclipse viewers will make unfortunate mistakes from which they may never recover.

So in case this column can prevent some such mistakes, let’s repeat the message.

Protect your eyes from the eclipse.

Protect your eyes from the eclipse.

Protect your eyes from the eclipse.

And while you’re at it: Protect your pets’ eyes from the eclipse, perhaps by leaving them inside, and also closing the draperies or pulling down the shades, as necessary.

You don’t have to be afraid of looking at the eclipse if you wear the correct special eclipse glasses.

But you have to wear the correct special eclipse glasses.

No, you can’t look at the eclipse with only sunglasses, no matter what kind you have. They won’t cut it. You need to wear the correct special eclipse glasses.

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This eclipse is going to be fun, because it’s a solar eclipse, it’s a total solar eclipse, and it’s a total solar eclipse here.

Chautauqua County last had a total solar eclipse on June 16, 1806, or 218 years ago when Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States.

Chautauqua County’s next total solar eclipse is on Oct. 26, 2144, or 120½ years from now.

Maybe, just maybe, some will see both the 2024 and 2144 eclipses during their earthly lives.

In case you, faithful reader of this column, aren’t among them, you need to enjoy the 2024 eclipse with your special eclipse glasses.

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According to National Geographic, a solar eclipse–unlike a lunar eclipse–occurs when a new moon–the opposite of a full moon–moves between the Earth and the sun.

There are four kinds of solar eclipses.

First is the total eclipse, which occurs when the moon, from the vantage point of those in the path of totality, completely covers the sun’s surface. Although the entire eclipse–the process of the new moon slowly blocking and later slowly unblocking the sun–can last hours, the time of totality usually lasts only a few minutes at most.

Second is the partial eclipse, which occurs when the moon only partially covers the sun’s surface.

Third is the annular eclipse, which occurs when the moon completely passes in front of the sun without covering the sun completely.

Fourth is the hybrid eclipse, which occurs when the eclipse is in some places total and in other places annular.

The local Martz-Kohl Observatory has announced that it is not–repeat, not–open to the public on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Tom Traub, vice president of the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association, Inc. and NASA solar-eclipse ambassador, says on the association’s website that how long the moon covers the sun varies based on one’s location on the eclipse path.

The April 8, 2024, path’s southern limit is just south of Titusville and Warren and just north of Olean, Traub writes. Near the eclipse’s center line on Lake Erie and just south of Buffalo, coverage will last 3 minutes, 40 seconds, while Jamestown will have 2 minutes, 53 seconds, and Warren and Titusville will have 45 to 50 seconds.

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Nowadays, everyone–or maybe almost everyone–can know any eclipse, including a total solar eclipse, is coming.

But imagine what it must have been like to those who, however long ago, didn’t know what an eclipse–much less a total solar eclipse–was.

What must that have been like?

People were doing whatever they did during their day when–to them–out of nowhere something in the sky that had the shape of the moon slowly began to cover the sun, then covered it completely, and then slowly began to uncover it.

What was that? Was it a bad omen? Would it happen again? If it did, would it cover the sun more and more each time? Would it eventually and permanently block the sun completely?

How frightening that might have been.

And think of this: They didn’t know not to look at a solar eclipse, nor did they have any special eclipse glasses.

Randy Elf has his special eclipse glasses.

(c) 2024 BY RANDY ELF