Get ready for a ring of fire this Saturday. No, there won’t be a Johnny Cash concert, which at this point would have to include AI and holograms. It’s a solar eclipse. As usual, you’ll be able to see it, but not look at it. It’s called a “ring of fire solar eclipse”, but its more proper name is “annular eclipse”. It’s when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and creates the appearance of an illuminated ring in the sky. And according to NASA, we in the Treasure Valley will be able to see about 90 percent of the full effect. If you want to see 100 percent, drive to Lakeview, Oregon or Winnemucca, Nevada or Cedar City, Utah. They’re in the path to see it all. And if you enjoy the desert, it’s a lovely drive to all three. The best viewing times, naturally, will be when it’s happening. And according to NASA again, that should start about 9:15am and last until about 11:50am. That means the absolute best time to look briefly in the sun’s direction should be 10:37 to 10:38. Obviously, the weather will be a big factor when it comes to how much of the eclipse you’ll be able to witness. Cloudy or not, when it happens, it’ll get dark. Everybody knows it’s not safe to look directly at the sun, especially people who do it a lot. So get yourself some eclipse glasses by Saturday if you don’t already own them. In Boise you can get them free, sort of, if you attend an event the previous afternoon at the Discovery Center, which will require paid admission. A quick Google search will tell you that the best way to get free eclipse glasses is to go back to the eclipse of 2017 when the news cycle was apparently less crowded and dozens of businesses were providing them. Otherwise, snap a photo and look at that. Or wear your darkest sunglasses and look ever so briefly. By the way, if you’re in Nevada, check the sports book at your favorite casino for updated odds on whether the current president will be caught on video looking directly at the eclipse. Your bet could be a chance to make a clear, albeit weird, political statement.
