SAFE WAY TO VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 1998
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Glenn A. Walsh, Telephone: 412-561-7876 or
Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
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 >.
If you are in the Pittsburgh area, you can also telephone: 412-561-7876; regular long-distance charges apply, for telephone calls made from outside of the Pittsburgh area. Leave your question on the telephone answering machine.
Every effort will be made to return your electronic mail message or telephone call, prior to the solar eclipse.
News Release - Solar Eclipse of 2001 December 14
News Release - Solar Eclipse of 1998 February 26
About the Author: Glenn A. Walsh
Friends of the Zeiss
P.O. Box 1041
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.
Telephone: 412-561-7876
Electronic Mail: <
friendsofthezeiss@planetarium.cc >
Internet Web Site: <
http://www.friendsofthezeiss.org >
Other Internet Web Sites of Interest
History of The Adler Planetarium
and Astronomy Museum, Chicago -
America's First Major Planetarium !
History of Astronomer, Educator, and
Optician John A. Brashear
History of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie
Libraries
History of Industrialist, Art Patron, and Philanthropist Henry Clay Frick
The Duquesne
Incline, Pittsburgh -
Historic Cable Car Railway Serving Commuters and Tourists since 1877 !
Other
History Links
Quick-Reference Pages(Valuable Library References)
Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web Site is not affiliated with the Andrew Carnegie Free Library,
Ninth Pennsylvania
Reserves Civil War Reenactment Group,
Henry Buhl, Jr.
Planetarium and Observatory,
The
Carnegie Science
Center, The
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute,
or
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
This Internet, World Wide Web Site sponsored by
Friends of the Zeiss;
administered by Glenn A.
Walsh.
Unless otherwise indicated, all pages in this web site are
Copyright
1998-2002,
Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved.
The author thanks
The Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh and the Three Rivers Free-Net
for use of their digital scanner and
other computer equipment, and other
assistance provided in the production of this web site.
Internet Web Cover Page: <
http://www.friendsofthezeiss.org >
Web address of this web page: <
http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com/solflyer2.htm >
Contact Web Site Administrator:
solflyer2@planetarium.cc
This Internet web page was originally created 1998 February 10.
Last modified : Wednesday, 15-Jul-2009 13:17:04 EDT.
You are visitor number 
, to this web page,
since 2001 November 25.
