The library will be closed on Monday, April 8, for the solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and thereby obscures the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, in totality. Fayette County is near the Path of Totality. To help the community safely view the eclipse, the library has free eclipse-viewing glasses to give away on a first-come, first-served basis to Fayette County residents, while supplies last. Eclipse-viewing glasses are limited to 1 per person and 4 per household.
Check out the path of totality here.
In Washington Court House:
- Partial begins: 1:54:23 pm
- Maximum: 3:11:44 pm
- Partial ends: 4:26:22 pm
- Obscuration: 99.5%
Safe Viewing:
Solar Eclipse Viewing Tips from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration:
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
- View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face Fayette County is not in the path of totality, so there will not be a time when it is safe to view the eclipse without proper eye protection in our area.
- As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the Sun.
Find complete safety information here.
If you are shopping for solar eclipse glasses, make sure they’re safe! The American Astronomical Society has a page to help you select safe viewing tools here.
On April 8, NASA Television will host a live broadcast featuring views from telescopes along the path of totality.
Safety Considerations:
Guidance from Fayette County Emergency Management Director Melissa Havens for Eclipse Day, Monday, April 8, 2024: Deliveries, appointments, and work travel may be impacted by the traffic congestion on Ohio’s roads.
Considerations:
- Fill prescriptions ahead of time
- Schedule important deliveries on other dates
- Schedule appointments on other dates
- Have a plan for how to get to and from work
- Be aware of alternate routes if traveling
- Make sure your gas tank is full ahead of time and you've packed food or snacks if traveling