Image:Solar eclipse.svg

[edit] Summary

Diagram of a solar eclipse. Obviously not to scale.

Other versions:

Drawn by User:Fastfission in Inkscape.

NEVER look through a telescope or binoculars, or any optical aide or device that magnifies an image, at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse; this would cause PERMANENT BLINDNESS INSTANTLY !

The only exception to this rule would be if viewing the solar eclipse through a trained astronomer's telescope. But, even in this case, be sure that the professional solar eclipse filter specifically designed for a telescope, used for safely viewing the solar eclipse, is placed over the large telescope lens or telescope mirror(called an "entry filter"), NOT placed over the small eyepiece lens you would look through(called an "exit filter") . In the recent past, some cheap telescopes were sold with exit filters for solar observing; this was very unfortunate, as these exit filters are prone to damage by the heat from the Sun.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER look through a telescope or binoculars at the Sun or a solar eclipse, if the Sun filter is placed over the small eyepiece lens you would look through. The heat from the Sun can damage this filter, allowing hazardous sunlight to reach your eye, while looking through the telescope.

NEVER look at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse with your unaided eye; this could cause MAJOR EYE DAMAGE and POSSIBLE BLINDNESS ! Blindness can occur rapidly, without any pain, since there are no nerves in the retina of the eyes.

NO filtering device, sunglasses, photographic film or negatives, or darkened or "smoked" glass or plastic, is safe for looking at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse, unless it is SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR SOLAR ECLIPSE OBSERVING and UNDAMAGED(i.e. includes no pinholes or holes of any size) !

To safely view a Solar Eclipse, prepare a box as shown, with a pinhole (perhaps in aluminum foil covering a larger hole in the box) at one end and a white sheet of paper at the other end, inside. Standing, with your back to the Sun and your head inside the box, allow the Sun's light to shine through the pinhole and observe a small image of the Solar Eclipse on the white sheet of paper. NEVER look through the pinhole at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse; this could cause MAJOR EYE DAMAGE and POSSIBLE BLINDNESS !

If you cannot find a box, you can also use two pieces of cardboard. Place a pinhole in one piece of cardboard. Standing with your back to the Sun, allow the light from the eclipse to shine through the pinhole and project onto the second piece of cardboard, where you will see a small image of the solar eclipse. Again, NEVER look through the pinhole at the Sun or a Solar Eclipse; this could cause MAJOR EYE DAMAGE and POSSIBLE BLINDNESS !

Another safe way to view a solar eclipse would be to check with a local planetarium, astronomical observatory, Science center or museum, the Astronomy or Physics Department at a local college or university, or amateur astronomers' club. Sometimes, one or more of these organizations will sponsor an observing session of a solar eclipse, utilizing professional equipment operated by trained astronomers.

For further questions about safely viewing a Solar Eclipse, send an electronic mail message to

< eclipse@planetarium.cc >.

[edit] Licensing

This image has been released into the public domain by its author, Fastfission. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Fastfission grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. العربية | Български | Deutsch | Ελληνικά | English | Español | Français | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Polski | Русский | Српски / Srpski | Svenska | தமிழ் | Українська | ‪中文(繁體)‬ | ‪中文(简体)‬  +/-

If you want to credit someone, credit "Wikimedia Commons." Otherwise don't credit anyone, that's fine by me. --Fastfission 15:04, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

• Solar eclipse