A remote sensing expert has warned Ghanaians not to use black polyethylene bags, popularly known as ‘take away bags’, to view the partial solar eclipse that is expected to occur in Ghana Wednesday morning.
Some Ghanaians in November 2013 adopted unorthodox ways of view a similar partial solar eclipse, prominent among them were the use of the popular black polyethylene bags.
But Professor Emmanuel Amamoo-Okyere who is a remote sensing expert, has told Onua FM the use of black polyethylene could cause blindness.
He explained on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa morning show that the sun rays from the solar eclipse has a high potency of causing blindness, hence the use of any other device in viewing the eclipse apart from the approved shades could have dire consequences on one’s eyes.
“Don’t squeeze your eyes to view it. It can cause blindness,” Prof Amamoo-Okyere added.
Ghana will experience a partial solar eclipse today, Thursday, September 1 from 6:13am to 7:30am.The sun will be about 80% obscured which is similar to the Partial Solar Eclipse of November 2013.
Partial Solar Eclipse happens when the moon comes between the sun and the earth. Since they do not align perfectly in a straight line, the moon partially covers the sun’s disc.
Thursday’s celestial occurrence will last for two hours, thirty-three minutes, according to Prof Amamoo-Okyere.
The next partial eclipse is predicted to happen on February, 26, 2017 in Ghana. A total eclipse is set to happen in 2034, Prof Amamo- Okyere said.
Prof Amamo-Okyere said “viewers must use the special shades to views the eclipse. If you watch the normal light with the shade and you can see the normal light, then your shade is not the original.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com
