Natural solar filter

[ThunderChild]

Not having been lucky enough to look through a solar filter yet, I'm not sure what having a good look at the sun is like.

This morning however, I reckon I came just a little bit closer. As I left for work, there was a "perfect" amount of fog around me - not enough to block out the sun entirely, but definitely enough to make looking at it very comfortable. I could make out a very clear outline of the sun. Looked pretty cool to me at the time anyway.

It didn't last long - within 5 minutes the sun had burnt through and was bright again.

[barees63]

Are you sure that's safe? does fog really cut UV? Remember you can still get sunburnt on a cloudy day..

[ThunderChild]

I'd answer you - except I can no longer see the keyboard properly!

No, I actually did think about that and stopped viewing fairly quickly because I wasn't sure. The sun was almost ghost-like - in fact, just for a moment I actually wasn't even sure whether it was the sun or the moon behind the clouds. If the fog was any thicker, then I wouldn't have seen the sun at all.

Can anyone here say for sure whether this is a very bad thing to do - or conversely, Ok in this situation for a brief time?

[Merlin66]

Fog/ clouds/ standard filters etc etc are NOT safe for viewing the sun. There was a very good article in the Sky & Telescope a couple of years ago which compared various filters.
NB There is a very good and safe solar filter currently for sale on the Buy & Sell!!

[astroron]

As long as you dont spend a great deal of time staring at the Sun and when it starts to burn through the mist turn away there shouldn't be any damage, we geta lot of UV light in our eyes through normal everyday living. Get A good pair of Poleroid Sunglasses. Common sence is the go here

[ving]

you didnt use you scope did you? cause that would be just plain dangerous. if you were looking at the sun thru the fog without any optical aid or magnification then you were more than likely safe :)

[asimov]

Safe enough I would say...depending on how long you look at it. How often would the fog be thick enough to give just the right viewing conditions...not often I bet!

As ving says, don't look at it thru a scope! That's asking for trouble.

[Mr Bob]

http://spaceweather.com/sunspots/doityourself.html