We often hear the word Solar Eclipse, usually two to five times a year. And with every solar eclipse, we are often not able to see the moon as it is not visible. But how many times do we care about learning what it exactly is? That’s why we have presented this guide to help you know about this irregular yet unique phenomenon.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks out a good portion of the sun’s light. The sun, the moon, and the Earth are aligned in a straight line. The sun is in front of the moon which casts a shadow on Earth. As the moon moves across the sky, it blocks more and more sunlight that reaches Earth. A solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks out all or part of the sun’s light. There are two types of eclipses:
- Total
- Partial
Partial eclipses happen when only part of the sun is blocked, while during a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks out all of the sun’s light and casts a shadow on Earth. But now as the next solar eclipse is coming up, we all want to watch it safely. But from wearing glasses to watch a solar eclipse to using a sun filter on our telescope, what are the ways to do it? We’ll help you know all about it.
Why Are We Looking At The Sun?
During every solar eclipse, we often see the moon passing between the Earth and Sun, blocking all the light of the sun to reach the earth, and thus, what we observe this time is complete darkness during the night. This is all possible due to the perfect alignment of the three celestial bodies – the sun, moon, and earth. With every solar eclipse, we wish to have a look at the eclipse. But how do we do that? It’s through special solar eclipse viewing glasses or projection screens that can easily protect our eyesight. And if you want to view it in person, solar eclipse glasses are always a good idea.
But is it possible to have a look at the eclipse with naked eyes? It is often advised to not have a look at an eclipse with your naked eyes or with any other form of unprotected glass as these can simply harm your eyes. You can also use a solar filter for your telescope before looking at the sun when there isn’t an eclipse happening, but only if it’s not being used for any type of photography that includes exposure times longer than one second.
How to View a Solar Eclipse?
If you want to view a solar eclipse, your best bet is to buy a pair of glasses for the solar eclipse. These glasses are made out of materials that allow you to see the sun without damaging your eyes. You can also use a sun filter for a telescope if you plan on viewing the event through an optical device.
It’s also a good idea to cover your camera lens with a solar filter for the camera if you plan on taking pictures of an eclipse. This isn’t necessary for viewing, but it can be helpful if you want to catch special moments during totality that aren’t visible in photographs. Again, we recommend sun filters for telescopes for optimal protection.
You can also use binoculars or a telescope with a solar filter to observe an eclipse, but make sure to take precautions so you don’t damage your equipment. Many people want to watch solar eclipses as they occur in nature, but it’s important to remember that staring at any type of partial solar eclipse can be extremely dangerous if you’re not using proper protection.
Conclusion
Solar eclipses are a once-in-a-lifetime event, so make sure you are prepared. You can watch the eclipse with protective solar filters or solar eclipse glasses. The only time it is safe to remove your solar eclipse glasses is when the moon completely covers the sun, and even then only for around 3 minutes. Make sure to pack your supplies and keep them nearby so you can watch safely!
Leave a Reply