Eclipse this evening

[QC]

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-solar-eclipse-20120520,0,5332627.story

OK, so here is a question that I want the unsafe answer to . . . They always say, "never look at an eclipse." Buuuutttt, we all glance at the Sun from time to time. Can I glance? Is there any reason that looking at an eclipse is any different than looking at the sun? As it sets for example? Come on. Somebody give me the unsafe answer. The reckless one. The one you don't tell little kids.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Eclipse this evening

During an eclipse,the sun is shadowed enought to not hurt your eyes,but the rays will still damage the eyes if you stare long enough. Imagine living with a permanent circle burnt into the inside of your eyeballs!

 

[QC]

Re: Eclipse this evening

Yeah, I have done some more research, and the don't look thing is that you get a false sense of OK with an eclipse. I went out and glanced quickly at the sun when it was "full" today. Almost impossible. Apparently the damaging rays are bad regardless of how much you can tolerate. Like you said, a burned ring instead of a large dot. So that brings me back to the sunset question. With this one so close to sunset, it would seem you could look at it when very low on the horizon as you could with a typical sunset.

I am not trying to do something stupid, I just want to understand it better. There are some of it that have a hard time with "just don't." We're the same ones that ask "why can't I use other brands of multi-vis oil?"

 

[12vMan]

Re: Eclipse this evening

It's never safe to look at an annular eclipse. Even a fraction of a second can irreparably damage your eyes. I got out the welding mask. If you use one or welding goggles, they should be shade 14 or better. Enjoy!

 

[12vMan]

Re: Eclipse this evening

Here's a live streaming site from Reno: CLICKY

 

[QC]

Re: Eclipse this evening

If you use one or welding goggles, they should be shade 14 or better.

Just went to Home Depot. Sold out

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Eclipse this evening

At sunset, there is more atmosphere between you and the sun. Cloudy and drizzling here in Portland, OR. We aren't going to see much. It was clear and 70's for the last two weeks. Who schedules these things?

 

[QC]

Re: Eclipse this evening

Yeah, I understand the low horizon. It was over before it got low enough. I tried a mirror method that I read about in the paper.

"One easy method: using a hand mirror to reflect the light of the sun onto the sidewalk, said Griffith Observatory Director Ed Krupp"

I walked around with a mirror, projecting it on sidewalk, fences, side of the house etc. All I got was a reflection of light from the mirror, in the shape of the mirror. I finally tried all the way across the street from deep in my backyard, and it worked :facepalm: You think they coulda mentioned that you needed to project it over 100 ft. away. That method was pretty good though

 

[oops!]

Re: Eclipse this evening

cloudy here....

missed it

 

[GTS225]

Re: Eclipse this evening

Punch a clean-cut hole in a sheet of paper. Stand with your back to the sun, and with another piece of paper, hold the holed paper up, casting a shadow onto the unpunched paper. You'll see the eclipse in the lighted dot on the clean sheet.
I will not guarantee it will work with an anular eclipse. I do know that it works with a partial eclipse.

Roger

 

[QC]

Re: Eclipse this evening

Yeah, I made one of those too, it worked. Something sucky about seeing it only as a shadow. Kind of a "yeah that's cool, now what?"

It was very cool. Quick glances were obvious, and the sky was definitely darker. Seemed like it does here when we get our bad brush fires. Same as I recalled from 1992, which is the last one I saw.