Don’t Do These Five Things During The Eclipse

We have eclipse frenzy in America, and it will all come to a crashing crescendo on Monday, August 21. In Louisiana we will have a partial view of the eclipse, but in 12 states, it will look like it's night in the middle of the day. Well, at least for a couple of minutes.

MSN has some great pointers for what NOT to do during the total eclipse. If you are traveling somewhere like Carbondale, Illinois, or Nashville, , where the eclipse will be total, these would be pretty essential. For the rest of us, it's just going to be a fun, once in a lifetime, reason to celebrate the inner meteorologist in all of us.

• Don't use do-it-yourself solar filters. Official eclipse viewing glasses that have solar filters are the only safe way to look directly at the sun. Make sure they have ISO 12312-2 certification
• Don't put on your Eclipse glasses, and look through binoculars. Also not safe. According to NASA, concentrated solar rays will damage the filter, enter your eyes, and will cause serious injury
• Don't wear eclipse glasses during the minutes of the actual total eclipse. If you are in an area that will experience a complete blackout, the brief time when the moon fully eclipses the sun, you won't need your glasses. it will be spectacularly dark, and you won't want to miss it!
• Don't waste your time taking photos, leave that up to the professionals. Take it all in instead of looking for that perfect shot!
• Pay attention to your surroundings. The environment will change drastically. Temperatures will fall, wind will pick up, animals will think it's nightfall, and there will be an eerie sense enveloping you. Stay in the moment, and you won't regret this awe inspiring event.