You’ve probably heard about today’s solar eclipse, April 8.

Central Oregonians won’t experience a total eclipse such as the one the drew tens of thousands of visitors in 2017. People from Texas to Maine will be beneath the path of totality this time around, whereas Oregonians can look forward to about 25% of the sun being covered by the moon.

Don’t use old eclipse glasses

It goes without saying that one shouldn’t look directly at the sun, but people may be tempted to dig out an old pair of eclipse glasses. Lifelong Bend astronomy enthusiast Michael J. Caba, aka the Telescope Guy, of Bend, has recently been trying to spread the word that eclipse glasses older than three years pose a danger to one’s eyeballs. (For more on Caba, visit telescopeguy.net.)

Caba said he’s heard from several people who told them they planned to wear their old eclipse glasses from the 2017 solar eclipse.

Don’t do it, he says.

Caba cited an article from the April issue of Astronomy Magazine, that read, in part: “No one can deny the beauty of a solar eclipse, but seeing one is not worth endangering your eyesight. … If you saved your eclipse glasses from seven years ago, toss them. The protective coating deteriorates over time and typically doesn’t last more than three years.”

Places to safely view eclipse in Central Oregon

There are ways one can take in the eclipse safely without eclipse glasses. Weather permitting, Caba will have a properly filtered telescope set up near the picnic shelter in Discovery Park during the eclipse, which in Bend will start at 10:30 a.m., peak at 11:25 a.m. and conclude at 12:22 p.m. There’s no cost.

Sunriver Observatory, 57245 River Road, will be open for solar viewing, said manager Paul Poncy, and will host a partial eclipse viewing event from 10 a.m. to noon.

The observatory will supply eclipse glasses to all who attend and will have several telescopes set up with different solar filters for safe viewing. Eclipse watchers can also pick up a pair of eclipse glasses there for a small fee regardless of whether they’ll be attending the event.

“We actually have a lot out in Sunriver. We sell them at the front desk for about a dollar,” Poncy said.

During the eclipse, telescopes will be outfitted with natural light filters, which are akin to eclipse glasses, as well as a hydrogen alpha filter, which looks at a specific spectral line and enables one to see a lot of detail on the sun, he said.

Because much of the observatory’s staff will be heading east, it’s especially important to pre-register, he said.

“We can’t handle a big crowd this time because actually a lot of our staff are going to totality,” Poncy said.

The event costs $12 for adults, $10 for youth. To register, visit snco.org/event/2024-eclipse.