How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse
Protecting Your Eyes During an Eclipse
Don't Look Directly at the Sun
Staring directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes. The sun's rays can burn the retina, leading to blurred vision or even blindness.
Use Certified Eyewear
The safest way to watch a solar eclipse is to use certified solar eclipse glasses. These glasses have a special filter that blocks out the sun's harmful UV rays.
Make a Solar Projector
If you don't have eclipse glasses, you can create a simple solar projector. Take a piece of white paper and poke a small hole in it. Hold the paper up to the sun, and the light will project an image of the eclipse onto the ground.
Observe from a Shadow
Another way to safely observe a solar eclipse is to stand in a shadow. When the moon passes in front of the sun, it will cast a shadow on the ground. You can stand in the shadow and watch the eclipse reflected off of nearby objects.
When to View the Eclipse Without Glasses
There is only one time when it is safe to view a solar eclipse without glasses: during totality. Totality is the brief period of time when the moon completely blocks out the sun. During totality, the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, can be seen. This is a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight.
To know when totality is happening, check with your local astronomy club or visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) website.
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