Eclipse- is it safe to watch through your phone on selfie mode?

[Wonderwoman333]

Does anyone know if it's safe for your eyes to turn your back to the sun and put your phone in selfie mode to watch the eclipse?
I left it too late to buy glasses.

I wouldn't trust any sort of glasses even the eclipse ones as I don't know if they are 100% safe. There will a lot of fake shit out there. Might be a kill joy but I value my eyes over anything.

The glass preferably needs to be the highest level protection of Shade 14 so if it isn't marked on the lens and you're not sure, then still be cautious.

In case you are wondering how I know this random fact, it's because until my recent retirement I worked for a business which sells welding & laser equipment (including ppe eyewear) to industry.

I remember a similar event when I was at primary school decades ago - we were all told to bring a negative in to school, and used that to look through.

Not very bright, you might say...

The last eclipse (which was a full one) was a massive anticlimax so don’t get too excited people and please don’t risk your eyesight or your phones in order to look at something which resembles a tiny piece of hole punch paper with a bite taken out of it.

I would have liked some more notice!

In 1999 when dd was a baby we had a broderie anglaise pram parasol. We were outside (facing away from the sun) and she was covered all over in little tiny crescent shapes.😍

we have been warned not to use glasses from the last eclipse so I guess it will be the same this time.

there was a story on tv this morning about a bloke who had looked at the last eclipse through a welders mask and damaged his eyes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5d19q9kngo

your choice... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5d19q9kngo

I was asked a question and I answered.

😂😂😂

Is anyone going to shut their eyes and make a wish?

Can I view it from a closed window? Without glasses etc

Yes I was about 13, but saw nothing. Only viewable in a certain place in UK.

I’ve got three old phones on charge to use in selfie mode. No shits given if they get fried.

BBC News channel are covering the eclipse from now

Why are the eclipse glasses cheap, if they are way more powerful than normal good quality sunglasses... sold out onv now.
Didn't realise.

That BBC website didn't really explain anything. It just said NASA had said it might harm the phone and provided a link to an X thread where NASA say
"We asked our @NASAHQPhoto team, and the answer is yes, the phone sensor could be damaged just like any other image sensor if it’s pointed directly at the Sun."
Which suggests that while it's a risk it's not that huge a risk if you aren't setting up for a dramatic photo but just want a casual, handheld look once the eclipse has started since lots of people take photos of the sun and take selfies or even FaceTime with the sun in full view on their phone everyday.

I know you find the idea that people are curious about what is behind advice and how valid it is to be outrageous, but some people recognise that asking why is just about trying to learn about the world so they can make their own decisions based on their own appetite for risk.

(And while I got glasses so I wont be using my camera, I video an outdoor activity for about an hour every week with the sun in frame the entire time, and I won't be changing that habit).

The next similarly impressive one will be in 2081. That should be sufficient

IT'S BONNIE'S FUNERAL THIS WEEK!!! Cosmic!

🥹🌒

And that is the behaviour of a sheep 😂. It's good to ask why so people can understand. And if u look it up its not quite rocket science ....so let people ask why and educate themselves

But I won't be lining the phone up by looking at the sun? I will be using selfie mode so the sun will be behind me.

Thank you!

Watch out for reflection in the screen. I've just done a dry run with an old iphone, lowered the exposure and took a video. Worked fine.