Libby Stargazers prepare to gaze at Monday's eclipse
Kathy Nielson, president of the Libby Stargazers astronomy club, readies a telescope for solar viewing on Aug. 14. (Elka Wood/The Western News)
Stargazers vice president Janine Wesley peers at the sun through a telescope fitted with a special solar lense on August 14. The Stargazers plan to view Monday’s eclipse together at Nielson’s observatory. (Elka Wood, The Western News)
On Monday, Aug. 21, millions of Americans will gather along a 100-mile wide strip of land to see the first sea-to-sea total eclipse — the complete blocking out of the sun by the moon which will reveal the solar corona — in almost 100 years.
Locally, only a 97 percent eclipse will be visible, and only for a few minutes. The first signs of darkening will begin 10:16 a.m. Monday and end at noon.
It will still be a sight to behold, but a local astronomy club says to make sure to be prepared.
The Libby Stargazers stress that viewing an eclipse requires protective eyewear, which can include certified solar glasses, solar viewing binoculars or shade 14 or higher welding glass.
“The sun will burn your retinas and you can go blind if you look at the sun without protection,” said club vice president Janine Wesley. “Don’t think that sunglasses will take care of it.”
“If you plan to view through a telescope, be sure it has a reputable solar filter,” added club president Kathy Nielsen. “Inspect it for cracks or chips, and if it has any, throw it out.”
Nielsen and Wesley said that the very southwestern corner of our state will see a total eclipse, but the area is remote and mountainous.
“You better hike” if you want to get there, Nielson said.
The Stargazers will meet at Nielson’s observatory on Monday to view together and enjoy a late breakfast.
“We’re expecting about a dozen people,” Wesley said.
Nielsen has traveled to view numerous partial eclipses and one total solar eclipse in her life. She described the experience as stirring.
“It gets dark and the birds stop chirping and start to go into night time mode,” she said. “It’s very surreal, but it also doesn’t last that long, so you have to be ready.”
In line with her main occupation of teaching photography at Flathead Community College, Nielson said she loves working with gadgets, and the range of solar filters she has for her telescopes proves it.
However, Nielsen’s self-made observatory employs an ancient technology — pulleys — so she can easily move sections of the roof aside to make room for her telescopes.
As Nielson pointed out sunspots — relatively cool spots on the sun that, when facing the earth, cause the Northern lights — she said she was grateful that the smoky skies have cleared.
“If it’s overcast on the day of the eclipse, we won’t be able to see much,” she said. “But if it’s smoky, we won’t be able to look at all.”
Smoke leaves a film on her lenses that would ruin them, she said.
For more information about the Stargazers, call 406-293-2552 or visit www.ksaclibby.org. For more information about Monday’s eclipse, visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov.