3 Ways to Protect Your Eyesight While Watching a Solar Eclipse
A few days before a total solar eclipse, you can easily get caught up in the excitement of the astronomical event and forget how critical it is to put your eyes’ safety first. Looking at the sun directly, even briefly, is uncomfortable and can permanently injure your retina. The same precaution applies to watching a solar eclipse. Here are three ways to take precautions and keep your eyes safe for the opportunity to view a solar eclipse more times in the future.
1- Use Solar Eclipse Glasses
Wearing solar eclipse glasses is the first technique for protecting your eyesight while watching a solar eclipse. These are special glasses designed to filter UV, visible, and infrared rays from the sun. However, do not purchase just any glasses. Confirm that the glasses adhere to ISO 12312-2 safety standards.
Furthermore, check if they have scratches, wrinkles, or damage in any way. Do not use them if you notice any of these defects. Always avoid such risks by buying from reputable vendors.. It ensures that you are getting certified products.
2- Use Solar Filters for Telescopes and Cameras
Photographing a solar eclipse through a telescope or camera is as essential as viewing it. However, your eyes should be your most important consideration when photographing a solar eclipse. Solar filters are a good technique, providing a barrier between your camera, or your telescope, and the sun.
When you put them safely in position, keep them on until after the apparatus points away from the sun. Also, ensure the filters are secure so they cannot be accidentally removed from the camera or telescope during the eclipse.
Remember, the sun is very bright, and its light is intense enough to burn through cheap or counterfeit solar filters. Before the eclipse, you can, therefore, contact the vendors to get their recommendations for good-quality filters that are safe to use.
3- Use Indirect Viewing Methods
Indirect viewing is your third option for safely watching a solar eclipse. A popular method is to create a pinhole projection. Do it by filtering sunlight through a small hole, like in a piece of paper, onto a surface. Then, a projected image of the sun, as seen through the hole, allows you to safely watch the eclipse without looking directly at the sun.
Another option involves projecting an image of the sun through a telescope or binoculars onto a surface. Position the equipment so that it is facing the sun. Then, by adjusting the focus, you can project an eclipse image onto a screen or wall. This way, you and your solar filter have nothing to do with the sun’s direct rays, which makes this viewing method safe.
Whether you use certified solar eclipse viewing glasses, install solar filters on any telescopes or cameras, or use indirect methods of viewing the solar eclipse, prioritize taking the necessary precautions by purchasing from a reputable vendor. They can help you protect your eyesight and enjoy the eclipse better. As a result, you will have plenty of opportunities to see the next total solar eclipse.
