BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 21ST2017 – Former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Martin has issued a warning against watching Monday’s solar eclipse with the naked eye.
“Looking at it is not worth it. Prevention is better than cure,” said Dr. Martin.
“Protect your eyesight. Protect your child’s eyesight. Never stare at the sun; not even for a second. A partial eclipse of the sun starts around 2:20 pm on Monday. It will last for 2.5 hours. Do not look directly at the sun, or at it through sunglasses of any kind, colour film, x-ray film, a camera, binoculars or telescope,” he said.
Dr. Martin also warned that “sun radiation causes temporary or permanent injury ranging from blurred vision to cataracts to dark spots in the retina. A solar eclipse may be viewed only through approved lens stamped ISO 12312-2. They are all sold out. Fake lens are being sold. Do not buy them. Your eyes are irreplaceable. Looking at an eclipse is not worth it. Prevention is better than cure.”
News Americas Now posted also that in Basseterre, St. Kitts, residents may be able to experience the partial eclipse from 2:20 pm through 4:50 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:40 pm.
The New York-based News Americas Now noted that eclipse fever has taken over many across the US with thousands trekking to cities where the phenomenon will be first seen in totality to experience this rare, once in a lifetime occurrence.
“But if you are in the Caribbean, where and when exactly can you experience this once this event? News Americas has compiled a list of cities and times today where with the right gear, you can be a part of the 2017 eclipse fever by catching a partial eclipse.
“Remember the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as ‘eclipse glasses’ … or hand-held solar viewers, according to NASA.
Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury. However, pinhole projectors made with a simple cereal box, foil paper and a piece of white paper, is a safe, indirect viewing technique for observing an image of the sun if you are backing the eclipse.
Here are the times you can experience a partial eclipse in a Caribbean city near you:
Georgetown, Guyana
The partial eclipse is set to begin in Guyana at 2:48 pm EST. today and will be at its maximum visibility at 3:58 pm. EST but last until 5 p.m.
Kingston, Jamaica
In Kingston, Jamaica, the partial eclipse will begin at 12:51 pm Est.; coming into maximum view at 2:18 p.m. EST and lasting for 2 hours and 43 minutes, through 3:34 pm. EST.
Road Town, BVI
Nationals and residents in Road Town, BVI may be able to catch a partial eclipse beginning at 2:14 pm. EST. By 3:36 pm, it would have reached its maximum but will wrap up two-and-a-half-hours later at 4:47 pm EST.
The Valley, Anguilla
In Anguilla, residents can catch the partial solar eclipse from 2:17 pm through 4:48 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:38 pm. EST
Marigot, St. Martin
The partial eclipse in St. Martin will begin at 2:17 pm and run for two hours and 31 minutes through 4:49 p.m. It will be at its maximum at 3:38 pm EST.
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
In Philipsburg, Sint Marten, Partial Solar Eclipse, in Philipsburg, residents there may be able to see the partial eclipse from 2:18 pm through 4:49 pm EST. It will be at its maximum here at 3:38 p.m.
Castries, St. Lucia
In Castries, St. Lucia, a partial eclipse will come into view at 2:29 pm EST and last for two hours and 25 minutes – through 4:54 p.m. It will be at its peak at 3:47 p.m.
The Bottom, Saba
In the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, resident will be able to see the partial solar eclipse 2:18 pm through 4:49 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:39 pm EST.
Willemstead, Curacao
In Curaçao, the partial eclipse will last for 2 hours, 28 minutes – beginning at 2:21 pm and lasting through 4:49 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:40 pm.
Bridgetown, Barbados
In Barbados, the solar eclipse will last for 2 hours, 22 minutes – beginning at 2:33 pm EST and running until 4:56 pm. It will be at its maximum at 2:33 pm.
Saint George’s, Grenada
Residents in Grenada will be able to experience the partial solar eclipse, in Saint George’s from 2:32 pm. It will last for 2 hours and 23 minutes – until 4:55 pm EST and will be at its maximum at 3:49 pm EST.
Georgetown, Cayman Islands
In the Cayman Islands, the partial solar eclipse, in George Town will last 2 hours, 47 minutes – from 12:38 pm to 3:26 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 2:07 pm.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Residents in Bermuda will 2 hours, 34 minutes to experience the partial solar eclipse, in Hamilton. It will begin at 2:51 pm and run through 5:25 pm. It will be at its maximum at 4:12 pm.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Partial Solar Eclipse in San Juan will last 2 hours, 35 minutes, beginning at 2:11 pm and running until 4:46 pm. It will be at its maximum at 3:34 pm.
St. Thomas, USVI
In St. Thomas, USVI, residents will be able to experience the partial solar eclipse from 2:14 pm until 4:47 pm EST. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 3:36 pm EST.
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
In Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, the partial eclipse will last 2 hours, 21 minutes, beginning at 2:36 pm EST and lasting until 4:56 pm. It will be at its maximum at 3:51 pm EST.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Residents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti will be able to see the Partial solar eclipse for 2 hours, 41 minutes beginning at 1:59 pm and lasting until 4:40 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:25 pm EST.
Kingstown, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
In St. Vincent & The Grenadines’ capital of Kingstown, the partial solar eclipse will begin at 2:31 pm and last for 2 hours, 24 minutes – through 4:55 pm. It will be at its maximum at 3:48 pm EST.
Nassau, Bahamas
In the Bahamas, residents of Nassau will be able to catch the eclipse from 1:34 pm EST. through 4:25 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:05 pm.
Basseterre, St. Kitts/Nevis
In Basseterre, St. Kitts, residents may be able to experience the partial eclipse from 2:20 pm through 4:50 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:40 pm.
Fort-de-France, Martinique
In Fort-de-France, Martinique, the partial eclipse will begin at 2:28 pm and last for 2 hours, 26 minutes – through 4:53 pm. It will be at its maximum at 3:46 pm EST.
Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Residents in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe will be able to catch the partial solar eclipse for 2 hours, 28 minutes – from 2:24 pm to 4:52 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:43 pm EST.
Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius
The Partial Solar Eclipse will come into view in Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius at 2:19 pm EST. It will last 2 hours, 31 minutes, through 4:49 pm and will be at its maximum at 3:39 pm EST.
Roseau, Dominica
The Partial Solar Eclipse in Roseau, Dominica will last 2 hours, 27 minutes – beginning at 2:26 pm and lasting until 4:53 pm. EST. It will be at its peak at 3:44 pm.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
In, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Partial Solar Eclipse will last 2 hours, 39 minutes. It will begin at 2:04 pm and last until 4:43 pm. It will be at its maximum at 3:29 pm.
Havana, Cuba
The Partial Solar Eclipse in Havana, Cuba begins at 1:27 pm and will last until 4:20 pm EST. It will be at its peak at 2:58 pm EST.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
In Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Partial Solar Eclipse will begin at 1:52 pm and end, 2 hours, 44 minutes later at 4:36 pm. EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:19 pm.
Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
Residents in Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda will be able to experience the partial solar eclipse for 2 hours, 29 minutes – from 2:21 to 4:50 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 3:41 pm EST.
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy
If you are in Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy, you will be able to experience the partial eclipse, from 2:18 pm through 4:49 pm EST. It will be at its peak at 3:39 pm EST.
Paramaribo, Suriname
The Partial Solar Eclipse in Paramaribo, Suriname will begin at 3:53 pm and last 2 hours, 8 minutes – through 6:01 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 5:01 pm EST.
Oranjestad, Aruba
The Partial Solar Eclipse, in Oranjestad is set to begin at 2:18 pm and end at 4:48 pm. It will be at its peak at 3:38 pm EST.
Belize City, Belize
In Belize City, the partial solar eclipse begins early, 11:29 am and will end at 2:12 pm EST. It will be at its maximum at 12:54 pm EST.
Cayenne, French Guiana
The Partial Solar Eclipse will begin in Cayenne at 3:58 pm and end at 6:03 pm EST. It will be at its peak at 5:04 pm EST.
*This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.
