I don't know if you remember a couple of years ago I was in touch with Fair Trading/Consumer Affairs about the plastic solar filters that come with cheap scopes in an effort to get them banned. There was a thread about it somewhere, but according to FT; after contacting and speaking with "optical experts" and Ophthalmologists the little filters were fine to use
You now after years of using telescopes and solar filters I just feel so damn stupid. Who do I believe
After calling for all to turn their backs the author of one of their papers has stated the following:
"Although we strongly advise against any direct viewing of the eclipse, if you decide to view the Sun directly use only "CE" marked standard solar filters and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully."
Dr Rowan Porter (page 11, 2nd column, last paragraph)
The message that they are sending out is a little mixed.
I would have preferred to see a warning similar to what was printed in ASTRONOMY 2012 AUSTRALIA, page 5 (In the Shadow of the Moon). It gives accurate information regarding the risks involved and lets people know how to view the Sun in safety with solar filtered telescopes.
how many people do you know who have be blinded or had their eye affected by viewing an eclipse
me: none
how many people do you know who have cancer or some form or another
me: at least 3
I don't get the point of this post........
Unsafe solar viewing doesn't necessarily blind you instantly, the results of unsafe viewing are called 'solar retinopathy' where the intense/excessive light on the retina causes a release of various chemicals inside the eye which damage ones eyesight, the condition is painless and effects are not noted immediately, however, when you magnify the sun's intense light by placing your beautiful Apochromatic objective lens and eyepiece in the path between your eye and Sol you reduce the time required to do damage by approximately your FL/EP fl.
The advise given in the original post is aimed at the lowest common denominator, not the experienced astronomer, there really are people who will damage their eyesight watching this eclipse.
You would be surprised what people are capable of, like the 50 people blinded in India while staring directly at the sun hoping to glimpse an image of the Virgin Mary. It happens .............. and given that eyesight is rather an important part of this hobby of ours these things are worth considering.
Thanks Mike, top marks to you for putting this advisory out there. Whatever our own thoughts and experiences might be, the fact is that during an eclipse, some people will be blinded or have their eyesight seriously impaired. Small numbers and maybe they were doing something silly, but for the individuals affected this is a devastating change in their lives.
I don't have a lot of figures, but a World Health Organisation Fact Sheet in 1999 had this to say:
"Statistical evidence, accumulated mostly in developed countries, is scarce. Eclipse blindness is often underreported because patients consult eye specialists long after viewing an eclipse. In many cases, they do not associate their condition with looking directly at the sun for only a few seconds. In the majority of developing countries, such statistics do not exist at all.
That is why the official global figures of eclipse blindness and visual impairment do not look impressive. After the partial solar eclipse of 1952, for example, 52 cases of blindness or severe visual impairment were registered worldwide. After the 1970 and 1980 total solar eclipses, 145 and 112 cases of serious visual impairment were reported respectively." https://apps.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact228.html
It happens (and will happen), so be careful! I won't be turning my back, but I will be taking every care.
Isn't it amazing that the results of viewing the sun in an unsafe manner can lead to the retina looking much like the sun that caused the damage, sunpots and all .......
[QUOTE=Kunama;906049]I don't get the point of this post........
Unsafe solar viewing doesn't necessarily blind you instantly, the results of unsafe viewing are called 'solar retinopathy' where the intense/excessive light on the retina causes a release of various chemicals inside the eye which damage ones eyesight, the condition is painless and effects are not noted immediately, however, when you magnify the sun's intense light by placing your beautiful Apochromatic objective lens and eyepiece in the path between your eye and Sol you reduce the time required to do damage by approximately your FL/EP fl.
My point is that statistically the numbers are small (nothing more)
I would hope that someone using a telescope would be prudent and smart enough to know the consequences and prepare against them.
Further more I take little interest in eclipses and if it wasn't for all the press etc I'd be oblivious to the fact that one was about to happen.
Some level of common sense must prevail and I would hope that in our educated society the dangers associated with looking directly at the sun in any circumstance, would be taught in schools from an early age.
Sounds like arse-covering to me. "You can view the eclipse through safe and approved filters etc, but we didn't tell you that."
+1 That's all it is, They should really only be stressing about the use of solar filters and just advising that you should wear solar glass's. Though with the level of some peoples I.Q. and the fact they don't want to end up be sued i guess they have to go to these extreams in warnings.
When i was a little kid during the last total solar eclipse my mum wouldnt let me go outside to view it i was so angry with her so im making up for it this year yayyyyy
So possibly a dumb question, how do you view the corona viewing during totality? Is it possible to view it directly though binoculars, or is it too dangerous to do that?
Also, I'm planning more take photos of the eclipse with a long lens. Is it worth slapping a UV filter on it to reduce the UV hitting either the camera sensor or my eye?
Who do I believe
Whatever our own thoughts and experiences might be, the fact is that during an eclipse, some people will be blinded or have their eyesight seriously impaired. Small numbers and maybe they were doing something silly, but for the individuals affected this is a devastating change in their lives.
i was so angry with her 
so im making up for it this year yayyyyy
