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What To Expect & Where To Watch The Eclipse Across Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — The whole nation is catching eclipse fever — and Fairfield County is no exception. 

Amazon has offered a refund to buyers who may have purchased potentially unsafe glasses for the solar eclipse.

Amazon has offered a refund to buyers who may have purchased potentially unsafe glasses for the solar eclipse.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com
The Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk is gearing up for the solar eclipse.

The Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk is gearing up for the solar eclipse.

Photo Credit: Submitted
The Ridgefield Library will host a solar eclipse celebration.

The Ridgefield Library will host a solar eclipse celebration.

Photo Credit: File

The Nutmeg State will not experience a total solar eclipse on Monday — it will be about 68 percent. To safely view the partial eclipse here, you must use protective eyewear throughout the event.  

The weather is expected to cooperate: the forecast calls for clear and sunny skies, with temps in the mid-80s. 

The solar eclipse in Connecticut will start at about 1:25 p.m., when a small sliver of the sun will be blocked by the moon. 

By 2:45 p.m. about two-thirds of the sun will be covered by the moon — the height of the eclipse in this region. By 4 p.m., the solar eclipse will be done. 

As the sky darkens in mid-afternoon, the temperature may drop a few degrees. 

If you want a preview of how it will look, click here and type in any location.  

It may be tempting to take a peek at Monday's solar eclipse, but do NOT look straight at the sun – even if you're wearing sunglasses.

The only way to look safely at a partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers. 

Solar filters and eclipse glasses muse carry the following certification insignia: ISO 12312-2. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking directly at the sun during an eclipse. 

Related story: If you don't have eclipse glasses, here's a do-it-yourself solution for safe viewing

Looking at a partial solar eclipse can cause permanent eye damage — even blindness. 

Do’s and don’ts about eclipses from NASA:

  • Do not look directly at the sun
  • Do not use ordinary sunglasses
  • Use special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, to view the eclipse
  • Read and follow the instructions
  • Always supervise children to ensure they are using their eclipse glasses or solar filters correctly
  • Do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device, and never use solar filters with these devices
  • Keep your pets indoors.
  • Inspect your solar filter before use; if it is scratched or damaged, discard the filter
  • Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly (Connecticut is not in the path of totality)
  • For additional information, click here 

Are you looking for a local event in Fairfield County to enjoy the view of the eclipse. Grab your eclipse glasses and head to one of these spots:

  • Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk: All are invited to witness the solar eclipse as it's captured streaming live from the sky and at the museum's state-of-the-art Multimedia Gallery. There are also plenty of kid's activities from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
  • Ridgefield Library Eclipse Celebration, Ballard Park, Ridgefield: The action starts with a themed 10:30 a.m. storytime at the Library and continues throughout the day. The Library and Parks and Rec will host music, crafts, games, a solar system scavenger hunt and eclipse viewing in Ballard Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Safe viewing glasses and instruction will be provided at the event.
  • Rolnick Observatory, Westport Astronomical Society, WestportMembers of the society will help visitors safely view the event through proper solar filters at the observatory. No registration is required. Just show up at the observatory, 182 Bayberry Lane.
  • Eclipse viewing parties will be held on the front lawns at the Main Library and the SoNo Branch Library. The party will be Monday, Aug. 21, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the library. 

  • You can tell your grandchildren, “I saw the Solar Eclipse from the treetops back in 2017.” The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum, the outdoor zip line and climbing venue at 4450 Park Ave. in Bridgeport, is offering a free pair of eclipse glasses (while supplies last) to ticketed guests to view the historic phenomenon while at the Park on Monday, Aug. 21. Seeing the eclipse from up in the trees in The Adventure Park is a unique way to witness a unique event. (Guests may use glasses while on tree platforms or from the ground but not while actively climbing or zip lining.) For further details, visit www.DiscoveryAdventurePark.org or call 203-690-1717.

If you'll be behind the wheel during the eclipse, click here for some safety rules to follow while driving. 

What is a solar eclipse? The sun, moon, and earth are in line, casting the moon's shadow onto the earth. 

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