The sunlight can heat up optics in just a few minutes, damaging eyepiece coatings and even melting the cement that holds eyepiece optics together.Īlso avoid so-called solar eyepieces that may come with less expensive telescopes. While it is possible to project an image of the sun through telescope optics onto a paper, it can damage your instrument. Remember never to look through the pinhole directly at the sun. Now you can safely view the projected image of the sun on that second piece of paper. Then, with the sun behind you, project the sun through that hole onto another white piece of paper. To make one, poke a three-millimeter-wide (or thereabouts) pinhole into a square piece of cardboard paper. A simple pinhole camera can do the trick. Pinhole Projectionīy far the safest method of watching the sun anytime, even during an eclipse, is to avoid gazing at the spectacle directly at all but instead look at a projected image of the sun. The best way to see the eclipse unfold up-close is by using metal-on-glass filters that fit on the front end of binoculars and telescopes.Ĭommonly available at local and online astronomy stores, these filters provide a safe, pleasing orange-yellow hue and are great to use for photography and sunspot viewing as well. The only problem with this method is finding a handy local welder’s supply store when you need it. The rectangular piece of dark green glass filters out all ultraviolet and infrared radiation and reduces visible light by a factor of at least 300,000. Welders Glassįor those with more experience with solar viewing who want to catch the partial phases of an eclipse, a number 14 arc welder’s glass can work well. Join Nat Geo and Airbnb #LiveFrom a geodesic dome on August 20 to talk to astrophysicist Jedidah Isler and photographer Babak Tafreshi about the science behind the upcoming total solar eclipse. These coated filters render the sun in steely blue-white color.įorget about using those Mylar space blankets sold at camping stores they are way too thin and flimsy, letting in dangerous amounts of strong light. Major telescope manufacturers sell aluminum-coated mylar plastic sheets that are available as eclipse viewing glasses or as ring filters that fit over the front of telescopes.
#HOW TO SEE THE ECLIPSE IF YOU DONT HAVE SOLAR SUNGLASSES FULL#
That's because while they reduce the incoming visible light, they fail to stop the full force of the sun's hazardous infrared and ultraviolet radiation.ĭespite the warnings, there are plenty of ways to safely enjoy one of Mother Nature’s most amazing spectacles. Smoked glass, x-ray films, sunglasses, and camera filters, for example, are all dangerous and should be avoided completely.
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Many materials and methods popularly used to observe an eclipse may be unsafe.
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And the effects may not appear until hours after the damage has been done. A retinal burn in that case can be frighteningly fast-taking no more than a fraction of a second.Īnd what makes it even more scary is that because the retina of the eye lacks pain receptors, you won't feel it happening. It is particularly dangerous to use binoculars or a telescope to look at the sun. The retina of an unprotected eye can burn in as little as 30 seconds. Less than 1 percent of the visible sun is still 4,000 times brighter than the full moon. Don't Stare at the SunĮven if only a tiny sliver of the sun can be seen, it's too bright for our eyes. While viewing a total eclipse is safe, it’s important to be aware of when it ends and when the sun starts its return. However, during an annular ("ring of fire") eclipse or a partial eclipse-where only a portion or even a tiny bite appears to be taken out of the solar disk-it is always extremely dangerous to look at the sun directly.
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Join us on August 21 to hear from experts around the country, see stunning photos-including your own-and be among the first to see the eclipse.įor the fleeting few minutes during a total eclipse when the entire disk of the sun is completely covered by the moon’s silhouette, it is completely safe to look directly at it with your naked eyes. Nat Geo and Airbnb are bringing you total solar eclipse coverage #LiveFrom coast to coast.