Planning to check out the total solar eclipse over N.L.? Here's what you need to know

Much of North America is gearing up to get a glimpse of Monday's total solar eclipse, with parts of Newfoundland directly in the path of totality when the moon completely covers over the sun.

That means the island is one of only a handful of locations across the continent perfectly situated with front-row seats to the phenomenon.

The eclipse begins late in the morning for those living on the west coast of Mexico and tracks north through the middle of the United States before looping east over Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

For Newfoundland, the moon is expected to cross over the sun between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. NT. What you will experience depends on where you are on the island and, of course, the weather.

Here's what you need to know.

Don't look at it

Seriously, don't look at the eclipse directly unless you have a pair ofspecialized solar glasses that will protect your eyes from the sun. Regular sunglasses are not effective.

Viewing the eclipse through a camera lens, telescope or binoculars without a solar filter will also cause "severe" eye injury, writesNASA. That includes looking through an unfiltered lens, even with solar glasses.

"The concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury," according to NASA's eclipse safety website.

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Experts suggest using a pinhole projector to view Monday's eclipse again, by not looking directly at it if you do not have the special glasses or special filters for your handheld lenses.

Even as the moon passes over the sun and the light begins to fade, it's still unsafe to stare, according to Dr. Sarah Hutchens, an optometrist based in St. John's.

"We would never normally just look directly at the sun. We don't stare at it it's too bright, and our reflex is to squint our eyes," said Hutchens.

"We'll feel like we can look at it for longer, it's not hurting our eyes, but our pupils will be bigger so light can still pass through even easier than on a normal day."

Best locations

While the rest of the continent will experience the eclipse hours before Newfoundland, that gives the public time to get in place around the island.

The southwest coast will see the path of totalityfirst.

The Channel-Port aux Basques and Stephenville areas should see a partial eclipse begin around 4:02 p.m. NT and a full, total eclipse around 5:10 p.m. NT.

That total eclipse window is open for only about two minutes before moving back into a partial eclipse. The entire event will end around 6:15 p.m.

Corner Brook will see similar results beginning around 4:07 p.m. So, too, will much of central Newfoundland including Buchans, Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander.

Further north, Clarenville and the Bonavista Peninsula should see the partial eclipse begin around 4:08 p.m. and the total eclipse around 5:13 p.m. before winding down around 6:17 p.m.

The weather

Temperature won't be a factor in Monday's event;rather, cloud coveris what meteorologists are keeping an eye on.

A grey and cloudy daymeans less of a chance to see the eclipse in its totality. Residents will notice a shift in the daylightbut won't have the opportunity to view the moon pass between the Earth and the sun.

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