{"id":34967,"date":"2023-10-14T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/6d8f3d7f-e903-4ad0-a351-05ef3cb78f69"},"modified":"2023-10-14T16:46:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T14:46:16","slug":"solar-eclipse-2023-how-to-safely-view-the-ring-of-fire-without-damaging-your-eyes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/solar-eclipse-2023-how-to-safely-view-the-ring-of-fire-without-damaging-your-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar eclipse 2023: How to safely view the ‘ring of fire’ without damaging your eyes"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can\u2019t just stare at the Sun, so how do you actually view an annular eclipse? There are a few safe ways to do it. <\/p>

By Alex Hughes\n <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 14 October 2023 at 14:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The 2023 US solar eclipse<\/a> is an amazing sight to see. However, it will come as no surprise that you can\u2019t just stare directly at the ‘ring of fire’, even the Sun<\/a> is almost fully blocked out.<\/p>

There are a few ways to safely view a solar eclipse, ranging from the use of household items, to some quick pre-eclipse purchases to make the experience better.<\/p>

An annular eclipse sees the Sun almost fully blocked out, creating an effect that looks like a giant ring of fire in the sky. The upcoming October 14<\/strong> solar eclipse is the last time such a celestial spectacle will be visible for the next 16 years.<\/p>

Why can’t you look at an eclipse directly?<\/h2>Because the Sun<\/a> is partially covered, it is easy to assume this is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of the Sun. However, while the intensity is reduced, it is still very dangerous to look at.<\/p>
Looking at the Sun without proper eye protection during an eclipse can cause what is known as \u2018eclipse blindness, better known as retinal burns or solar retinopathy. This exposure can damage cells in the retina that transmit what you see to the brain.<\/p>
Damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs without any noticeable pain, making it something you will want to avoid.<\/p>
How to view the annular solar eclipse safely<\/h2>
Solar eclipse glasses<\/h3>
Credit: LeoPatrizi<\/figcaption><\/figure>
For actually watching an eclipse, the best option is going to be getting your hands on a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses. While wearing these, the eclipse can be watched normally without any danger to the eyes.<\/p>
Check the glasses for any scratches or tears before using, and make sure they are designed specifically for eclipses.<\/p>
Watch on YouTube<\/h3>
NASA has a live broadcast event on YouTube<\/a> (see below) for the Ring of Fire eclipse. From here, you\u2019ll be able to watch the entire broadcast of the event.<\/p>
This isn\u2019t exactly the most authentic way to experience the eclipse, but it is the easiest and safest. If you don\u2019t have any way of experiencing it yourself, you can always go online and watch a video of it happening.<\/p>
<\/div><\/figure><p>Not only will there be coverage of the eclipse itself, but NASA will also air conversations with scientists and telescope views from around the world.<\/p><h3 id=\"h-pinhole-camera\">Pinhole camera<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/pinhole-camera-1024x683.jpg?fit=800,534\" alt=\"A student watches a solar eclipse using a pinhole camera\" class=\"wp-image-173596\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A pinhole camera is one of the more creative ways to watch a solar eclipse and can be a fun activity to do with children. All you need is two pieces of white card, some foil, tape and a pin, paper clip or pencil.<\/p><p>With this technique, the make-shift camera will form a projection on the piece of card. While it doesn\u2019t allow for actually looking at the Sun, it is a much safer alternative, while still experiencing the magnitude of the eclipse.<\/p><p>NASA has a full guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/edu\/learn\/project\/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to build your own pinhole camera<\/a>.<\/p><h3 id=\"h-colander\">Colander<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/collander-1024x627.jpg?fit=800,490\" alt=\"A colander mirrors the effect of a partial solar eclipse.\" class=\"wp-image-173595\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Another homemade hack, a colander from your kitchen can be a useful tool to help you view the eclipse. Hold up the colander and you can see the collection of small crescents that match up to the eclipsed phase of the Sun.<\/p><p>This can be cast onto a piece of paper, but the downside is that the size of the crescents are quite small so no details such as sunspots can be seen.<\/p><p><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/space\/why-are-solar-eclipses-rarer-than-lunar-eclipses\">Why are solar eclipses rarer than lunar eclipses?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/space\/how-far-apart-are-the-sun-moon-and-earth-during-eclipses\">How far apart are the Sun, Moon and Earth during eclipses?<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can\u2019t just stare at the Sun, so how do you actually view an annular eclipse? 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