Submitted by O Bee Credit Union
Are you ready for the Great Eclipse of 2017? On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to a rare celestial event — a total eclipse of the sun. This is the first U.S. total solar eclipse since 1979 and O Bee Credit Union is offering free eclipse viewing glasses for this once in a lifetime event. “We are having a great time helping kids get ready for their first eclipse,” said Alice Few, a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western Washington. “With these safe solar viewing eclipse glasses, Scouts and their families have been learning about the eclipse and will be able to safely view the event.”
Thurston County will enjoy prime eclipse viewing. The eclipse will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina; a narrow band 100-km wide, referred to as the “path of totality,” will be completely obscured by the moon. People within this area will experience a total eclipse of the sun. Thurston County is not in the “path of totality,” but viewing will be spectacular nonetheless with a predicted 94 percent of the sun blocked by the moon at approximately 10:15 a.m. Day will become night here for about 5 minutes.
It’s important to stay safe and protect your eyes while viewing the eclipse. Never look directly at an eclipse without protective eyewear. O Bee Credit Union is offering free eclipse viewing glasses to the community at all branches. The glasses are manufactured by Rainbow Symphony, and certified to meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products. NASA cites Rainbow Symphony as one of only four manufacturers to date to have such certification. Go to the NASA website to learn more about the eclipse and eclipse safety. Get your eclipse glasses at O Bee while supplies last. For more information about the free eclipse glasses go to the O Bee Credit Union website.
