By Lookout Staff
August 20, 2017 -- On Monday morning, starting at 9:05, those in the Los Angeles area will get a partial view of Monday's much-awaited solar eclipse.
Those who want to join others when the moon occludes the sun have several options on the Westside.
From 9 to 10:30 a.m., the Santa Monica Library's Pico Branch will hold an eclipse-watching event.
Glasses sponsored by NASA will be provided to view "what is being called the 'largest sky event in the history of time,'" library officials said.
"The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as 'eclipse glasses' or hand-held solar viewers," NASA officials said.
"Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun."
The eclipse also can be viewed using a solar telescope or a pinhole projection camera, experts said.
UCLA is offering an eclipse-watching event at the Court of Sciences on the Westwood campus.
"Telescopes equipped with solar filters will reveal details of the solar surface and an image of the sun will be projected on a white screen, allowing visitors to take pictures," officials said.
A limited number of eclipse glasses will also be provided.
During the height of the eclipse, which ends at 11:44 a.m., the sun will disappear behind the moon, temperatures will drop and massive ribbons of lights will twist and curl across the summer sky, astronomers said.
And while Californians will only get a partial view, the experience promises to be a memorable one.
