Special viewing equipment is needed to safely watch the eclipse due to the brightness of the sun and the dangers of staring at it for long periods of time. The easiest method to see the eclipse will be to use safely glasses, though those are becoming harder to find. Many stores and online retailers are sold out and the proliferation of cheap knock-offs is raising safety concerns. It is not safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse. It is not safe to look at the sun while wearing sunglasses, and the eclipse may damage your phone, so do not attempt to take a photo with your smartphone.
If you don’t want to risk sun damage to your eyes – or fight the crowds trying to get the best view of the eclipse – you can tune in online. NASA has a day of programming planned, including live coverage from 12 locations, airplanes, ground telescopes and 57 high-altitude balloons. Coverage starts at 12 p.m. ET and ends at 4 p.m. ET. You can find more information here.
