Current:Home > InvestLooking at a solar eclipse can be dangerous without eclipse glasses. Here’s what to know-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Looking at a solar eclipse can be dangerous without eclipse glasses. Here’s what to know
View Date:2025-01-11 06:38:32
DALLAS (AP) — Millions of people along a narrow band in North America will look up when the sky darkens during a total solar eclipse on April 8. When they do, safety is key.
Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse or at any other time can lead to permanent eye damage. The eclipse is only safe to witness with the naked eye during totality, or the period of total darkness when the moon completely covers the sun.
Those eager to experience the eclipse should buy eclipse glasses from a reputable vendor. Sunglasses are not protective enough, and binoculars and telescopes without a proper solar filter can magnify light from the sun, making them unsafe.
“Please, please put those glasses on,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said.
Where to find eclipse glasses
Since counterfeit glasses abound, consider purchasing glasses from a local science museum or order online from a seller cleared on the American Astronomical Society’s website.
Eclipse safety experts say legitimate eclipse glasses should block out ultraviolet light from the sun and nearly all visible light. When worn indoors, only very bright lights should be faintly visible – not household furniture or wallpaper.
Old eclipse glasses from the 2017 total solar eclipse or October’s “ring of fire” annular eclipse are safe to reuse, as long as they aren’t warped and don’t have scratches or holes.
Glasses should say they comply with ISO 12312-2 standards, though fake suppliers can also print this language on their products. NASA does not approve or certify eclipse glasses.
How to view the eclipse without glasses
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can still enjoy the spectacle through indirect ways such as making a pinhole projector using household materials.
Poke a hole through a piece of cardstock or cardboard, hold it up during the eclipse and look down to see a partial crescent projected below. Holding up a colander or a cracker will produce a similar effect.
Another trick: Peering at the ground under a shady tree can yield crescent shadows as the sunlight filters through branches and leaves.
Eye experts warn against viewing the eclipse through a phone camera. The sun’s bright rays can also damage a phone’s digital components.
Why looking at a solar eclipse is dangerous
Eye damage can occur without proper protection. The sun’s bright rays can burn cells in the retina at the back of the eye. The retina doesn’t have pain receptors, so there’s no way to feel the damage as it happens. Once the cells die, they don’t come back.
Symptoms of solar eye damage, called solar retinopathy, include blurred vision and color distortion.
In a rare case of eclipse eye damage, a woman who viewed the 2017 eclipse without adequate protection came to Mount Sinai’s New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, complaining of a black spot in her vision. Doctors discovered retinal damage that corresponded to the eclipse’s shape.
“The dark spot she was describing was in the shape of a crescent,” said Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, a Mount Sinai ophthalmologist.
There’s no set rule for how long of a glance can lead to permanent damage. Severity varies based on cloudiness, air pollution and a person’s vantage point.
But doctors say looking at a solar eclipse for even a few seconds unprotected isn’t worth the risk. There are reports of solar retinopathy after every solar eclipse, and U.S. eye doctors saw dozens of extra visits after the one in 2017.
Spectators who plan ahead can secure a stress-free eclipse viewing experience.
“It can be dangerous if we aren’t careful, but it’s also very safe if we take the basic precautions,” said Dr. Geoffrey Emerson, a board member of the American Society for Retina Specialists.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (17853)
Related
- Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
- Michigan man won $1 million thanks to having to return a wrong item
- 1st Nevada Republican Senate primary debate won’t feature front-runner backed by national party
- National Popcorn Day 2024: The movie theaters offering free, discounted popcorn deals
- 1 million migrants in the US rely on temporary protections that Trump could target
- ‘Stop Cop City’ attacks have caused costs to rise for Atlanta police training center, officials say
- After 604 days, Uvalde families finally have DOJ's long-awaited school shooting report
- Stick To Your 2024 Fitness Goals With Plus-Size Activewear From Spanx, Amazon, Adidas, and More
- Britney Spears Reunites With Son Jayden Federline After His Move to Hawaii
- British leader Sunak urges Parliament’s upper house to swiftly pass Rwanda migration plan
Ranking
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- A Russian border city cancels Orthodox Epiphany events due to threats of Ukrainian attacks
- Usher’s Promise for His 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Performance Will Have You Saying OMG
- How long can ground beef stay in the fridge? Here's how to tell if the meat is still good
- Missouri prosecutor says he won’t charge Nelly after an August drug arrest
- Richard Simmons Makes Rare Statement Speaking Out Against Upcoming Biopic Starring Pauly Shore
- Christina Applegate, who has MS, gets standing ovation at Emmys
- Three months after former reality TV star sentenced for fraud, her ex-boyfriend is also accused
Recommendation
-
Bitcoin has topped $87,000 for a new record high. What to know about crypto’s post-election rally
-
What does this IRS code mean on my tax refund? Codes 826, 846, 570 and more explained.
-
Belarus rights group calls on UN to push for proper treatment of cancer-stricken opposition prisoner
-
Florida Board of Education bans DEI on college campuses, removes sociology core course
-
Brian Kelly asks question we're all wondering after Alabama whips LSU, but how to answer?
-
Former Army captain charged with fatally shooting two neighbors, dog in North Carolina
-
Two officers shot, man killed by police in gunfire exchange at Miami home, officials say
-
Inside Sofía Vergara’s Prosthetics Transformation Into Drug Lord Griselda Blanco