Queen Guitarist and Astrophysicist Brian May Offers Eclipse Advice

Queen founder and guitarist Brian May took to Instagram to offer his expertise to fans hoping to experience today’s solar eclipse (April 8).

Since May has a Ph.D from Imperial College London, and as an  astrophysicist who has assisted NASA and authored a thesis, A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud, he had a few thoughts on the subject.

The Solar Eclipse is April 8: Here is Where you Can Watch (safely) at Home or at Eclipse Parties

“Good luck all you folks who will be experiencing the Total Solar Eclipse tomorrow ! Wish I could join you … but sadly not this time … except vicariously – please tag me with your fabulous photos !!!,” he began.

He continued: “Above all — be incredibly careful with your eyes. NEVER look directly at the Sun – except for those 3 minutes or so when it’s totally eclipsed. NEVER use binoculars or a telescope to look at the Sun – again, except for those few precious moments when it’s totally covered by the Moon,” Always use proper obscuring filters designed for the job to look at the partial phases. DO NOT IMPROVISE !!! But …. ENJOY !!!! Bri XX”

The solar eclipse in New Jersey will begin around 2:09 pm and will conclude at 4:35 p.m. Maximum darkness will occur at 3:24 p.m.