By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

On Monday, April 8, Pennsauken residents will be able to experience a partial solar eclipse, an event where the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking a portion of the sun’s light. With the right weather conditions, you’ll be able to experience this celestial happening. Here are the details.

Next month’s partial solar eclipse will begin on April 8 at 2:08 p.m. The maximum view – the moment when the largest area of the moon is blocking the sun – occurs at 3:23 p.m. The whole event wraps up at 4:35 p.m. From start to finish, this eclipse lasts for 2 hours, 27 minutes.

You cannot directly look at a solar eclipse without damaging your eyesight, but there are several options to view it safely. You can purchase eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Found in places like supermarkets and big box stores, these glasses are specifically designed to block harmful solar radiation and allow you to look directly at the sun during an eclipse.

For any furry family members you may have, it’s also advisable to have them stay indoors during the eclipse event so that they don’t inadvertently damage their eyes by looking up.

You can also use a pinhole projector to indirectly view the eclipse. Poke a small hole in a piece of cardboard, so that the sunlight passes through it onto another surface, like a piece of paper or the ground. The sun’s image will be projected through the pinhole.

For those thinking about using a camera or cell phone to capture a picture of the partial eclipse, be sure you’re using a solar filter. If you attempt to photograph the event directly, you can damage the sensors on your devices. The same goes with telescopes and binoculars; if you don’t have a proper solar filter, don’t use them to view the eclipse.

If you’re observing the event with children, make sure they understand the importance of wearing proper eye protection and supervise them closely so that they view the eclipse safely.

So mark your calendars, grab your eclipse glasses or pinhole projector, and get ready to enjoy this amazing event!