Solar eclipse, I don't understand why we can't look 😬

[Abouteffingtime]

I'm not stupid....really.

So mormally, if you look at the sun, its bright, but doesn't appear do any harm. (Based on my random viewing of the sun on occasion...) Can anyone explain to me why the solar eclipse is different?

Or, is it actually different?

A regular borrowed welder's mask won't be dark enough. You need the maximum protection strength of glass, which is shade 14.

I used the colander method in the last solar eclipse and it works.

Just be careful you don’t ‘strain’ your eyeballs

Re-posting the "colander method" in case some people think you can look at a solar eclipse through the holes in a colander like some sort of face shield. It isn't.

You use the holes to project the image onto a flat surface, ie the ground/pavement or a wall.

You stand with your back to the sun.

You hold the colander up over your shoulder and look at the shadow image on the wall or ground.

You do not look at the sun at all.

Why not watch a safe, high-definition broadcast of the event from your computer or phone instead to watch in real time.

Re-posting re Why can't I look at an eclipse?

During a solar eclipse when it is getting dark and dark the pupils in your eyes (the black centre) opens up (dilates) to let in light so you can see. (As it does in any low light environment).

The sun's massive radiation then quickly and painlessly burns the retinas (a layer of cells at the back of your eyes) which are light sensitive and pass info to nerves which helps your brain form the image you are looking at.

Essentially, your eyes are tricked into dilating because your brain thinks it's dark when light is actually concentrated like a laser.

You cannot protect your eyes by squinting to take a quick glance because your pupils are still dilated and the sun's intense radiation is still able to enter and cause damage, again, which is painless. And you won't know it right away. It takes up to 12 hours to notice the damage as the cells die.

No, sunglasses don't help. They actually let in a massive amount of light.
You need special glasses 100x darker, but if there is a scratch on them then they're useless.

Do not look through a camera, telescope, binoculars etc. You would need a special solar filter.

Please don't fuck with your eyes.

You can’t actually see the moon moving across the disc of the sun with the naked eye as the sun is simply too bright. It stays very bright until totality so tomorrow in the UK we will need the glasses or other means to see the eclipse in the sense of seeing the moon going across.

We will see the other things like the change in light and shadows etc.

In 1999 in Devon you could actually watch the moon going across because it was the kind of cloud cover that allows you see the disc of the sun through the cloud. We didn’t get to see the diamond ring effect because of the cloud but we still got the rest of the effect at totality. It was pretty amazing.

Sunglasses will not work. Stay inside your house watch it on the TV experience the dark silence outside by having the door open. Just don’t look

Just quoting this post, coz it's brilliant! Please take heed (those who are contemplating looking at the sun during the eclipse.) Also, please don't look at the sun! (Including during the eclipse!)

Stand with your back to the sun and use the front camera.

Do not attempt to take photos of the sun without solar filters over the lenses.

If you haven’t got solar glasses by now then you probably don’t have solar filters for any cameras either. Some alternative approaches here. (Spoiler: none of them involve taking photos of the sun with a bare phone/camera lens.)

www.thephotocoach.co.uk/post/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse-safely-with-your-phone-or-camera

Okay I understand the technicalities of the danger, but hear me out, would our ancestors (living pre-medical advice) not all have definitely stared long and hard at any solar eclipse in their time? I feel like “entire country goes blind” is not in the history books anywhere?

The entire country wouldn’t go blind. If you stare long enough at the partial eclipse before totality, you’re going to burn a shape in your eye and have a blind spot. Not actually go fully blind.

Also, ancient people weren’t total morons. People knew about the damage the sun does to your eyes. Eskimos have made their own glasses/goggles to prevent snow blindness for over 2000 years.

Please explain why the ‘sun is concentrated like a laser’ when 95% of it is blocked by the moon?

What is did not stare, and instead just glanced at the eclipse for a second?

Just read this. It looks helpful, but I have no idea how accurate it is.

Three ways to watch the solar eclipse safely without glasses

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdxyjnz3do www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdxyjnz3do]]]]

Oh yes they certainly understood snow blindness. No fool would ever ski without proper goggles because you wouldn't last 5 minutes.

Just don't look at the sun directly. Simples.

DH says I can use his welding helmet. Is that right or is he trying to blind me!

Risky.
Your pupils will be dilated due to low light/darkness and the sun's rays will be the lasers that burn your retinas. Don't worry, though! It's painless and you might have up to 12 hours afterward until you notice your vision loss. 🤓

This is a great question!

Yes, IF THE helmet shield lens is rated 12 or higher.
The caveat?
If there are ANY scratches, regardless of size, it's cannot be used.

There's a politician here in Spain who stared at an eclipse as a child and went almost blind.

Oh god, that’s scared the crap out me! Def will never look at the sun now!!

Long enough is ZERO seconds during partial eclipse phase (when the eclipse is taking place).

The ONLY exception, and I hate to give this info because risk-takers exist, is during the very brief totality
Mistakes are easy to make.
People want to take pics and look through camera lenses which focus light into your eyes.
People posing for selfies/other pics takes precious time and light begins to peek out.
People look though binoculars and telescopes to see it up close magnifying light into their eyes.

Any light from the sun damages your eyes.
During your lifetime damage is cumulative leading to cataracts and/or macular degeneration.

During an eclipse it is both light and dark. The darkness causes your pupils to dilate to LET IN MORE LIGHT. This is why you get such swift and significant eye damage. You cannot look at a solar eclipse safety without proper eye protection. Sunglasses, squinting, window film and anything else not specifically designed to view a solar eclipse will lead to eye damage. And if your special eclipse eye protection has even a tiny a scratch it is useless.

Please, everyone, watch a livestream instead.

Sorry meant to quote this! Bloody hell! Terrifying!

You can say this about almost every thread on mumsnet! Jeezus!

Not sure why you are getting such a hard time OP. I’m finding this thread fascinating.

Alright calm down. I’ll be watching it with the correct eclipse glasses. I want to see the real thing, not a video. I’ve bought the specs.

😅

Make sure they are not damaged in the slightest and rated ISO 12312-2.