How To View 'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse Safely In Illinois

ILLINOIS — The "ring of fire" eclipse on Saturday has skywatchers excited, and it might be partially visible from Illinois if the clouds stay at bay — but those looking to get a glimpse should use caution.

Anyone hoping to see the eclipse should take steps to protect their eyes — and avoid potentially irreversible damage — before viewing.

According to NASA, you can safely view the sun any day, even when there isn’t an eclipse, as long as you use specialized eye protection, such as eclipse glasses, a solar viewer, or a telescope with a solar filter.

Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for viewing an eclipse, and could cause irreversible eye damage. Certified solar viewing glasses or viewers are the best way to protect your eyes, so you can look up during an eclipse.

According to Indiana University, viewers must be in compliance with the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization to be considered safe, and there should be clear labeling on the viewer that says ISO 12312-2.

If you still have eclipse shades left from 2017, you can use those as long as they meet the requirements for ISO 12312-2 and are not torn, scratched or damaged.

If you can’t get your hands on a solar viewer or pair of solar glasses, you can make a pinhole projector to see the eclipse.

You can also view Saturday’s eclipse from the comfort of your own home live on YouTube.