Stay Safe While Watching the Eclipse

DART to the Eclipse
Posted on Apr 4, 2024 by DART Daily

When the eclipse arrives on Monday, April 8, North Texas will be right in the path of “totality.” That means that you should expect hundreds of thousands of visitors to be in town, all vying for a glimpse of the moon blocking the sun.

According to the Perot Museum of Nature & Science, the eclipse will start shortly after 12 p.m. (noon) and end at about 3 p.m. on April 8.

A grand celestial event is a worthy distraction, but you can enjoy this (relatively) rare spectacle while still remaining aware of your surroundings.

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

  • Avoid eclipse traffic by taking DART trains and buses to viewing events and other destinations.
  • Be in a stationary position when looking up at the eclipse.
  • If you are watching from one of DART's rail platforms, stay out of the way of riders getting on and off the trains and always stand behind the white bumpy strips on the edge of the rail platform.
  • Stop, look, and listen for DART vehicles (trains, buses, GoLink vehicles) – and motor vehicle traffic, as well, as you move through the stations, transit centers, or parking lots.
  • Never try to beat a train when driving or walking through a crossing, even if you are late to your eclipse event

Oh, and one last piece of advice: Mom was right. You should never stare at the sun. 

It is unsafe to view a solar eclipse without specialized eyewear, or a through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics. 

  • While nothing about the sun changes during an eclipse, your pupils will dilate to let in more light as it gets darker.
  • Your eyes will be more exposed to the sun's harmful UV rays if you look at it right before or right after the sun is completely covered, which can instantly and permanently damage your eyesight.
  • The only time to look upon the eclipse without special eclipse glasses is when the sun is fully covered by the moon during totality, which only will last three or four minutes, depending where you are.

A little situational awareness goes a long way toward an enjoying the eclipse! Here’s a roundup of DARTable events where you can do just that.

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