NORTHAMPTON — As the sun and moon align, creating a shadow on the Earth, millions of people across the United States on Monday will be watching.
Just don’t look at the sun without certified solar eclipse glasses.
And if you don’t have yours yet, you may be out of luck. The rare event has generated high demand for the eyewear, leaving many area stores out of stock.
Viewing events are another option, at which a limited number of glasses will be available. The University of Massachusetts and Forbes Library will hold events Monday.
The glasses, which block out ultraviolet and infrared radiation, are the only way to view the eclipse directly, according to Theresa Ruggiero, an optometrist with Northampton Vision Specialists. Damage from looking at the sun with the naked eye could potentially result in total blindness, she said.
“Damage occurs very quickly — almost immediately,” Ruggiero said. “There’s no such thing as taking a quick peek.”
The retina, the part of the eye that receives images, has no pain receptors, Ruggiero said. There’s no pain, even when significant damage has been done, she said.
People in the path of totality, an approximately 70-mile-wide strip from Oregon to South Carolina, will be able to view the eclipse with the naked eye for about two minutes. However, in Hampshire County, the eclipse is only partial and solar glasses must be worn to protect eyes.
In Northampton, the eclipse will begin at 1:25 p.m. Monday, peak at 2:44 p.m. and end at 3:58 p.m.
The glasses are dark and those wearing them will not be able to see much other than the sun. Ruggiero recommends that those viewing the eclipse face away from the sun when putting the glasses on and also when taking them off.
But at this point, the glasses, which cost about $1 to $2, are hard to find.
Employees at the Walmart in Northampton and 7-Eleven in Easthampton said phone lines have been flooded with people asking if the glasses are in stock. The two stores have sold out.
Lowe’s in Hadley sold its last pair this week, according to the store’s head cashier, Alyssa Garcia. She said the shop started selling the glasses on July 4. Last week they sold 351 glasses, Garcia said, and overall they sold 587.
A2Z Science & Learning Store sold about 800 pairs in two weeks, according to sales associate Melanie Donovan.
Since A2Z sold out on Monday, Donovan said, the store has been keeping a tally of the number of calls or in-person requests for the glasses. So far they’re at 90, she said.
“Distributors have been sold out as well,” she said.
Depending on distributors’ supply within the next few days, Donovan said, the store may have a more solar eclipse glasses available for purchase.
Customers must be careful to buy glasses that meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements. The American Astronomical Society lists brands of solar eclipse glasses that meet international safety standards on its website.
Ruggiero suggests that people still looking for the glasses visit their eye doctor. Her office has given about 175 glasses to patients so far and has around 25 left.
Ruggiero said the solar viewing glasses are necessary when viewing the eclipse. Regular sunglasses are not dark enough to be worn directly at the sun, she said.
Ruggiero cautioned that young children who want to view the eclipse need to be closely watched by a parent or adult.
The astronomy department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will host a viewing event on Monday beginning at 1:20 p.m. at the Sunwheel, off Rocky Hill Road, hosted by Daniela Calzetti, of the astronomy department, and Tom Whitney, Astronomy Association president.
Whitney is providing two telescopes and a pair of binoculars. All viewing instruments have a solar filter and are safe use while looking at the sun, Whitney said. Calzetti said the astronomy department will be providing 50 solar glasses.
Whitney holds regular solar programs on viewing sunspots or the sunset at Mount Pollux. For every program, Whitney said he warns participants to not look at the sun.
The Forbes Library is also holding a solar eclipse event at 2 p.m. Monday on the library lawn, 20 West St., Northampton. The library will have 50 glasses available for those who have registered for the event, but all are welcome.
Ralph Holley, the children’s department assistant, said they will be making pin-hole cameras which are made from cardboard and reflect an image of the eclipse.
If it rains, the event will be held inside, only open to 30 people due to the room’s size, and they will view the eclipse from a NASA live video.
So far, it weather forecasts predict the day will be bright and sunny.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.