Sure, he'll be able to see Thursday's solar eclipse. But, oh, if only he and the hundreds of other customers could see themselves in the mirror, looking like an audience for a 3-D horror flick.; It appears from the way people in the Golden State have been acting these days that they have been in the sun too long. Actually, they can't wait to get into the shadow. Millions of Californians will pause Thursday morning to join in an international ritual: watching the longest-lasting solar eclipse until 2132.; "What other natural phenomenon can you be involved in and not get killed?" said Bert Beecher, spokesman for the Minolta Planetarium at De Anza College. "It's a lot safer than being in a volcano."; Eyeshades a hot item; Bay Area people Tuesday were desperately seeking eyeshades. It took 24 hours for Orion Telescope in Cupertino to sell its stock of 900 Eclipse Viewers, which are made with Mylar plastic lenses and supposedly safe for eclipse viewing. Welding supply stores were inundated with calls for welder's glasses made with the same plastic.; Local planetariums and observatories were deluged with requests from people wanting to attend solar viewing sessions, even though the Bay Area will be privy only to a partial eclipse -- 63 percent coverage of the sun by the moon from 10:10 a.m. to 12:34 p.m.; Some Bay Area "umbraphiles" -- lovers of the shadow -- were leaving few details to chance.; Flights heavily booked; Flights from here to Mexico and Hawaii -- where the eclipse can be seen in total -- were heavily booked by sunstruck people spending thousands of dollars to stand in 6 minutes, 53 seconds of darkness.; Scott Wiener, a computer company executive from Saratoga, is flying with two buddies to Baja, where thousands will toast the corona with Coronas.; "I figure we'll get there in time to see the eclipse from a cab," said Wiener, who stood in line at the telescope store Tuesday for the Eclipse Viewers. "We'll put on the glasses and stick our heads out the window.; "I figure it's worth it. I don't know if I'll be around for the next one in 150 years."; WHERE TO WATCH; Here are places to view Thursday's solar eclipse:; (box)The San Jose Astronomical Association will set up special telescopes at Branham Lane Park, near the intersection of Branham and Camden Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, call the association's recorded message at (408) 997-3347.; (box)In Berkeley, the Lawrence Hall of Science will offer safe viewing. For information, call (415) 642-5133.; (box)At Foothill College, the Foothill Observatory will be open for public viewing. For information call (415) 949-7334.; (box)In Cupertino, viewing will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orion Telescope Center store at 10555 S. De Anza Blvd. Call (408) 255-8770 for information.; (box)California State University, Hayward is hosting a "Safe Solar Eclipse" viewing from 10 a.m. to noon in front of the Student Union. The Society of Physics Students will set up several 6-inch telescopes, and a video camera will record the eclipse for viewing on television. For information, call Kenton White or Charlie Harper at the physics department, (415) 881-3401.; (box)In Santa Cruz, a telescope will be set up in front of the Orion Telescope Center at 2450 17th Ave., and at the Seabright Brewery, 519 Seabright Ave. For information, call (408) 464-0465.; Source: Mercury News
Millions of Californians will pause 24 hours to watch a partial solar eclipse that will be the longest lasting until the year 2132. In the Bay area, 63% of the sun will be covered. A total eclipse will be seen in Mexico and Hawaii. Sales of Mylar plastic eyeshades, supposed safe for eclipse viewing, are brisk. Orion Telescope in Cupertino sold its entire stock of 900 in the morning of July 11. Many public and private organizations, associations and societies are setting up special equipment and safe viewing sites for the public. Sites and phone numbers for additional information is available.