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File photo: Young enthusiasts view the solar eclipse through special glasses at the Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad

On December 26, 2019, the third and final solar eclipse of the year will serve a visual treat to several parts of India between 8 am IST and last until 11:30 am IST.

This eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse a type of eclipse that occurs when the apparent diameter of the moon is smaller than that of the Sun. As the moon fails to block all of the Suns light, and only covers its centre, the Suns visible outer edges form a magnificent ring of fire in the sky. The annularity will occur between 9:24 am and 09:27 am on the east coast and 9:31 am and 9:35 am on the west coast.

Across India, the eclipse will be annular or partial depending on the location. Either way, when looking at this rare astronomical event, it is crucial to follow a list of dos and donts to enjoy this phenomenon without harming yourself.

Donts

Do not look at the Sun directly: Watching a solar eclipse without safety equipment, even for a few seconds, could be very harmful to the eyes. The Suns UV radiation can scorch and burn your retinas, and even cause permanent blindness.

Do not use films: Contrary to popular belief, colour films and medical X-ray films offer zero protection against the Suns ultraviolet rays during a solar eclipse.

Do not use regular sunglasses: Normal sunglasses, even those with UV protection, will not sufficiently protect your eyes when viewing an eclipse.

Do not use everyday optical devices: Gazing at the eclipse using binoculars, camera viewfinders, and telescopes can lead to instant and permanent blindness.

Do not use household and homemade objects: Using smoked glass, floppy disks or any other homemade solar filters should be strictly avoided.

A solar eclipse observed safely and indirectly, as the Sun's light passes through a pair of binoculars and falls on a piece of paper.

Dos

Wear eclipse glasses: A specially-made pair of eclipse glasses and eye-wear with sun filters are the best equipment to view the spectacle. If you regularly wear eyeglasses, wear the eclipse glasses on top of your regular eyeglasses.

Make your own projectors: An old-school DIY solar eclipse viewer made using a cardboard box (also known as pinhole camera) is perhaps the safest method to experience a solar eclipse, as it enables you to observe the Sun indirectly. Click here to learn how to make one. And as shown in the picture above, the Sun's reflection can also be indirectly observed by using your binoculars as projectors.

Use solar filters: If you plan on documenting the eclipse with any photo equipment, you can make use of special solar filters. However, it is best to seek expert advice from an astronomer before using the filters. Furthermore, ensure you use the type that is specifically designed for eclipses. Care should be taken, as filters can crack under the Suns magnified and focused intensity, and quickly become damaged and unsafe to use. Always check the filters before use.

Supervise your children: During an eclipse, make sure the children use the eclipse-viewing devices properly, and at no time do they directly look at the Sun with their naked eyes.

Make sure you are at the right place at the right time: Click here to find out if the annular eclipse will be visible from your area of residence, and at what time. Happy viewing!

Originally posted here:
Annular Solar Eclipse 2019: Do's and Don'ts While Watching the 'Ring of Fire' - The Weather Channel

This entry was posted on November 27, 2019 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Blindness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |