MIAMI – The moon will be covering part of the sun when the earth, moon and sun line up perfectly Monday. Eye doctors were reminding everyone in South Florida to get their solar glasses ready for the partial eclipse starting about 1:26 p.m.
Doctors warn the sun rays are capable of cooking the retina, a delicate light-sensitive tissue inside the eyeball. The damage can be temporary or permanent. Sunglasses do not offer enough protection during an eclipse. High-quality solar filters are also required at the front end of cameras, binoculars or telescopes.
"Can't wait for the cosmic moment," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator for science missions.
It will be the first time in 99 years observers in the U.S. can experience a solar eclipse from coast to coast. Millions were traveling to areas of the country in 14 states from Oregon at 1:16 p.m. to South Carolina at 2:47 p.m., where they will be able to observe the moon cover then sun completely.
Clouds can get in the way of the experience, which won't happen in the U.S. again until 2024. Local 10 News Meteorologists Jennifer Correa and Luke Dorris said they expect fair to good visibility in South Florida.
In Miami-Dade, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in downtown Miami will be distributing 5,000 glasses Monday. In West Palm Beach, the South Florida Science Center at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach will start distributing one pair of glasses per family starting at 9 a.m.
There will also be some glasses at The Stocker AstroScience Center at Florida International University at 11200 SW Eighth St., at the Deering Estate at 16701 SW 72nd Ave., and the Fox Observatory at16001 State Road 84, in Sunrise.
Local 10 News Glenna Milberg is on her way to South Carolina to bring you the latest from the path of totality.
Follow Local 10 News' live coverage of the solar eclipse on Local10.com and use the complete guide to be prepared.