UPDATE: MORE ECLIPSE INFORMATION AND ADVICE!
UPDATE 2: LATE TO THE PARTY?
UPDATE 3: People may have put sunscreen on their eyeballs to watch the eclipse
This was found on Facebook (posted by our friend, Menagerie) and seems like good information to share.
Michael Schecter:
As an Optometrist , I want to express concern that I have about the solar eclipse on Monday, Aug 21. There are serious risks associated with viewing a solar eclipse directly, even with the use of solar filter glasses. Everyone should keep in mind if they or their children are considering this.
We have to keep in mind that some people will encounter the inability to control every aspect of this exercise. For instance, true solar eclipse glasses are made for adults, do not fit children well and should not be used without direct parental supervision. If the solar glasses do not filter out 100% of the harmful UV rays, if they are not used absolutely perfectly, or should there be a manufacturing defect in any of them, this will result in permanent and irreversible vision loss for any eye exposed. Just like sunburn to the skin, the effects are not felt or noticed immediately. I have a great fear that I will have patients in my office on Tuesday, Aug 22 who woke up with hazy, blurry vision that I cannot fix. It is a huge risk to watch the eclipse even with the use of solar glasses. There is no absolutely safe way to do so other than on TV.
The biggest danger with children is ensuring proper use without direct parental supervision. As the eclipse passes over many places, including Columbus, the moon will not block 100% of the sun. Because so much of its light is blocked by the moon, if one looks at it without full protection, it does not cause pain as looking at the sun does on a regular day. Normally if you try to look at the sun, it physically hurts and you can’t see anything. During an eclipse, however, it is easier to stare for a bit….and even less than 30 seconds of exposure to a partially eclipsed sun, you can burn a blind spot right to your most precious central vision. With solar glasses you can’t see ANYTHING except the crescent of light of the sun. Kids could have a tendency to want to peak [sic] around the filter to see what is actually going on up there. One failure, just one, where education and supervision fail, will have such a devastating consequence.
Please, please be safe. Watch it on television.
PS: Feel free to share this post.
UPDATE: MORE ECLIPSE INFORMATION AND ADVICE!
UPDATE 2: LATE TO THE PARTY?
Stella's Place 
That is a worry! Here, in N.E.Georgia, they are keeping the schools open late. Mainly because of the traffic and no sun, but all of the schools are having “viewing events” to teach all of the kids about the solar system. It sounds to me like a really big mistake. Better to let the kids go home, and the parents be in charge of what is going on! I’m using a pinhole viewer. Easy to make yourself, and safer than looking at the sun. I just recently had cataract surgery, and go for another eye procedure in 4 weeks. I’ve worn glasses since I was 4 yo, and I know your sight is the most precious gift that God gave us. Stay safe, everyone!
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Parents ARE in charge. Keep your kids home for this important event.
My dad kept me home for an eclipse many years ago. We made a shadow box for viewing it indirectly, and he impressed on me the importance of how dangerous the sun was during that time. I’ve always remembered that.
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All of our schools here in TN are closed for that day!
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Not here at Ottway. It’s being dismissed at 1130 in Greeneville Tn
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This was an order passed down to all schools by the Governor. Your school is not complying with his order.
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Not here in maynardville either, (union Co) they r having early dismiss but not closed and i hope with all the traffic that is around and more ppl here that all the children get home safely, we were told that if we keep our children home that day without a Dr excuse it would count against them, and we r in Tennessee
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SAD. SO MANY UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN LOOKING AT THE SUN.
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Not in williamson county TN …we sign a release if we wanted the kids to view it while in school then had to sign a waiver releasing them of accountability if something happens
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My daughters sons are in that area too and they signed a waiver, that alone should tell you that they are not sure of what damage it may cause.
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Make sure they’re a shade 14- the others are not safe
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How do you know if they are a shade 14
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They should be marked. If they aren’t marked, assume that they are not dark enough for the eclipse. According to NASA, shade 12 is the bare minimum.
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With all the fake glasses out there, how would you know the fakers did not just mark their glasses the same as authentic glasses? I wouldn’t trust my eyesight to any glasses at this point, especially after reading this article!
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The glasses lens will look like metal on the front of them. If you can see anything at all through them normally, they are no good. You can look at a lightbulb in your home and you should be able to see a small slightly brighter area, but not be able to tell what it is – only that you see a light area in the black.
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White co tn isnt
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Not Macon County the schools sent home permission slips for the eclipse
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Tipton county schools in Covington Tennessee are open all day and providing glasses for the children to watch the solar eclipse
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Check out those glasses, if they don’t have the ISO rating with the number 12312-2 they are useless and dangerous because kids think they are safe.
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there are some fakes with that ISO rating number. Check them out first – you should see total darkness until you look directly at the sun. The sun will look much less bright than it is
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So you are suggesting that someone try defective glasses and the best way to test them is look at the sun with them? Hmmmmm?
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She not talking about looking at the sun during the eclipse; just normal sunlight.
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If you look at this bright white led flashlights…the bright blueish white ones, you should be able to see that faintly or faintly see just the filament of a bright white lightbulb.. nothing else. Everything else should be completely black. You don’t need to and shouldn’t look at the sun to test them.
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You would be able to tell very quickly… as said above, “Normally if you look at the sun, it physically hurts and you can’t see anything. During an eclipse, however, it is easier to stare for a bit.” So doing a quick check on a regular day seems better than not.
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You should NEVER look directly at the sun, eclipse or not.
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Even if they have that printed on them they’re not necessarily safe There have been many, many counterfeit pairs sold. I have some that are supposed to be safe, confirmed by NASA, etc. But I don’t think I’m using them. I’ll concentrate of the wildlife reactions and the shadow play on the ground. Then watch it online or on TV for the actual sun gazing.
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Amazon has recalled some of the glasses they sold.
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Even some of the ISO glasses are phony. You have to make sure you have glasses from certain manufacturers.
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There are only 3 manufacturer. One of them is American Paper Optics. I have three pair from a local optometrist and two from and certified by the SC State Museum.
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I was told that there glasses with the ISO on it that are not the real deal…Even then a scratch or hole or wrong fit is dangerous…these are made for adults.
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Johnson city schools in Johnson City, Tn are not closing but are staying about 15 minutes over.
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No, in my area, Wilson County they are going to be open; but parents have the option of using an excused absence if they want to keep their children at home.
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And you know what sucks! Our school in Wilson Co TN is giving the children an UNexcused absence if they miss or they are checked out early
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Everything I have read about the absences in Wilson County say they can use one of the 3 EXCUSED absences. So please re-check your source, or perhaps check with the school or the school office itself. They are to be excused absences.
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Why we homeschooled….Since when did the schools own our kids and their days anyway???
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Not here in Madison County, TN unfortunately.
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Our school in Brownsville Tn are open and so are Memphis schools.
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All schools in Cumberland county TN called parents Wednesday night and sent out an email stating they would be closed Monday. I also had to sign permission slips at the beginning of the school year. And they sent home a letter on Monday saying if we wanted to keep kids home it would be an excused. But said due to some challenges that may arise (I assume traffic and the fact that we would still be in the eclipse time frame when school gets out) they are calling it.
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Not all schools in Tennessee are closed. Shelby County (Memphis) is open
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Regarding Tennessee school closings:
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/eclipse/schools-close-for-total-solar-eclipse
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Not in Maury County.
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Bristol Tn City schools are staying an hour late and gave all the kids glasses to wear. Sullivan Co. Schools, on the other hand, are closed. I’m gonna use my husband’s welding goggles to take a quick peak.
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They said on TV not to use welding glasses.
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They have to be shade 12 or above and in perfect condition
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NASA’s website says the minimum for welding hoods and goggles is a shade 14.
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Actually, it is 12.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is welders glass of sufficiently high number. The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher.
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In order to use a welders helmet, the lens should be rated as a 14 or higher.
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14 is what I heard on TV this morning
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NASA says 12 is safe but many may find it uncomfortable so a 13 or 14 may be preferable.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
I’ll listen to NASA on such matters over “TV” any day of the week.
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I don’t live in Tennessee but why would a school want to be responsible for all these kids?
And why aren’t they allowed this experience with their family!?
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not all parents may be able to get off from work if they work at a hospital or police dept.
& some places will just not let them off no matter what and they need their job.
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Not all schools. Whit county schools in sparta are open and most preschools will be open.
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Not Williamson County.
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Johnson city TN, schools are open all day
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Not in Dickson county. All the schools are having viewing events.
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No they’re not. My school is open. Having a big outdoors thing to view the eclipse. Not my idea….but, I will be there monitoring my students.
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Uh, no they are not. All ours in our county are open with viewing happening at school.
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no here in coffee county we have a full day of school
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williamson county is not closed
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I’m in Arlington, TN and we’re open. They bought glasses for the students. But we’re taking the kids out and driving to Hopkinsville, KY. I felt better being in control of the day for them.
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No Ma’am ALL of them are not. Only one school in our area is closed that day. Our Scholls are open and it is an unexcused absence if the kids don’t go.
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Not all schools in Tennessee are closing. I don’t know where you got that information. Trousdale is in school, no Cancellation for us. They are having a viewing party for educational purposes for students and parents on our football field. Permission slips were sent home 2 weeks ago. And if the parents want to pick up their child early can do so and be counted present for the rest of the day, but will not be allowed in the stadium during the solar eclipse.
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All schools in Tennessee are not closed. We live in Murfreesboro and the city schools are open and viewing the Eclipse with students.
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Not here in Williamson County! I think it’s a mistake they are not!
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Not here in Washington County either, they are just letting out super early…10:15-11. Pretty sure Johnson City, Kpt, and Bristol are on the same type of schedule.
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Not in our TN County 😞
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Not in Kingsport Tn…my kids are the city schools and they’re going all day..sorry that you were misinformed.
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Not in Jackson
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Ours didn’t close in Obion County or Dyer County. I hadn’t heard of any surrounding counties in TN that closed either.
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Isn’t the eclipse on Sunday?
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August 21.
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No, it’s on Monday the 21st, starts 1pm, total at 235 and finishes around 405 in Georgia.
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Debbie Wilson are you related to Clara, dotty, and Margaret? Old hickory tn
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Monday 8/21
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Monday
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My school showed us how to view it properly many years ago. It was a great, informative, experience.
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What was their advice?
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When I was in school,(eons ago) it was a shoe box with a pinhole in it. I don’t know of any other way to view it. Seems to be the safest. But, you do have to caution children because they could be curious as stated in this article. I am not sure i would trust my young grandchildren.
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In North Carolina, there is early release day from school – kids get out at noon!
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What part of NC do you live in? Thx for the info.
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Would u share how to make pin hole please?
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https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html
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https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/
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The public school system in my hometown of Paducah, KY, in their wisdom has elected to send the children home with 30 minutes of the end of totality. In the shadows and traffic. Trusting that once outside, on the bus, that no child will look into the Sun, during the partially covered hour of the event.I think staying in school for the duration is a much wiser and safer decision.
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Comment removed.
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Why bring that into this?
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I agree. I am deleting the comment.
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One problem with sending children home is that many children are home alone with no supervision. At least at school, the glasses and supervision are in place.
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Our school is going to view on television and keep the kids inside.
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If I had a child in school, I would pick him up before the eclipse. I’d rather be in charge of what he views and how than trust someone else.
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Savannah area schools are closed Aug 21.
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We live in Rome ga. And they are keeping the kids 30 later and having a viewing on tv. The only truely safe way to watch.
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i too have had cataract surgery in the last 3 months. i had a torn retena years ago and was blind for a few days. combine that with my habit of reading (as long as i can remember) and it was a scary situation. i couldn’t bear the thought of never reading again so i have taken care of my eyes in every way possible. also i never miss an eclipse ’cause i’m into science and the space program. SO BE SURE YOUR LENSES ARE THE RIGHT ONES!
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For fun, take a colander out of your kitchen and look at the sun on the ground as it shines thru the holes. It will be special during the eclipse also. Have fun!
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A welders glass number 10 should do. my telescope has a solar filter and this is important; the solar filter fits on the End of the telescope! Do no use a telescope if you do not have a solar filter. Or if you have a solar filter for eyepieces, do not USED!!!! My filter is made by Meade……LX90
Wal Mart does not carry replacement EYES…….
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Welders glass 14 us recommended, not 10. Much of the danger with other filters is that they don’t stop UV. You can’t see UV, but it can see you.
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I agree with you all……we can always see it after the fact on the computer, uTube, tv, emails, lol
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No, no, no, no, no. I used a 12 lens to view the transit of Venus, and my eyes were sore and dry for days afterward. A 12 is not near dark enough, let alone a 10. DO NOT DO THIS.
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Welders glass #12 is the least you should use, not 10. I read that somewhere.
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“I read that somewhere.” And somehow that’s better advice that my comment immediately above yours that says how using a 12, I actually injured my eyes.
DO NOT USE A WELDING GLASS. Use the right till for the job, which is a lens that meets ISO12312-2. Nothing less should be considered safe.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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Not true, NASA recommends a #14 or higher welding lens if you choose that route as the bare minimum. You can read more here : https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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#14 is what you should use, and that is for NAKED EYE viewing ONLY. Telescopes require special, thicker filters and you are correct- it goes on the FRONT end.
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Actually welders #14 lens is the only one approved
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Scientist at the local planetarium (Huntsville AL) said #14 filter for the welder’s glass…be careful.
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Nope. Not even close. Must be at least a 14.
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The NASA website says “The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher. These are much darker than the filters used for most kinds of welding. If you have an old welder’s helmet around the house and are thinking of using it to view the Sun, make sure you know the filter’s shade number. If it’s less than 12 (and it probably is), don’t even think about using it to look at the Sun. Many people find the Sun too bright even in a Shade 12 filter, and some find the Sun too dim in a Shade 14 filter — but Shade 13 filters are uncommon and can be hard to find” https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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Welder helmet has to b a number 14!
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Reblogged this on The Last Refuge and commented:
Be safe during the upcoming eclipse. A very good post from Stella on the topic. Take a moment to be sure you understand the danger possible, especially for children.
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Thank you, Menagerie, for this very important warning and link which I found because of you on CTH. Fake solar glasses are being sold for profit to unsuspecting people who will get the opportunity to create permanent eye damage during the eclipse. I hope everyone shares this article on FB.
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“A very good post from Stella on the topic.”
Isn’t she referencing a post from you on FB?
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We both posted the words of someone else, but I did the post that she reblogged. Actually, we talked about it beforehand and decided that I would do the post, since she would have to do it from her phone, and she didn’t have time, and she would reblog it.
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I’m sorry Stella. I was trying to be humorous. I wasn’t trying to minimize or attack either of you.
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I know. I just thought I would explain the back story!
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Yep. We are the Bobbsey twins. She had time to write it and I didn’t, but we wanted to warn as many people as possible. This was our public service announcement.
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I’ve seen her and puffy on FB, but I don’t think I’ve seen you.
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Haha! I cannot wait to tel the Pud you called her puffy.
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Phone autocorrect lol
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And we have gotten a lot of combined views, so I hope that we save somebody pain and eye damage.
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Reblogged this on New Moons Only.
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Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
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Am sending this, and the CTH one, to twitter several times.
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I’m getting huge exposure on this one. Lots of reads for this little blog.
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It’s important information stella. Thank you for posting it (and to Menagerie for cross-posting at CTH).
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Ha!! Stella, ‘getting huge exposure on this one’!!! No pun intended??
But seriously, I fear many eye issues the day after throughout the eclipse viewable (really, NOT viewable) areas.
Thank you, Stella, for the VERY important warning.
And thank YOU, Menagerie!! For sharing w us Deplorable CTH readers.
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Thanks, Stella, for sharing this info.
most considerate and smart 🙂
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Good to see you Smiley! 🙂
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thanks, lovely…surprised it showed up.
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I wish that I could figure out why most of your comments end up in spam. This one did, but the previous one did not.
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Me too! Maybe the problem is solved! Maybe if you respond to posts whatever is happening won’t spam you’re posts ? Happy you made it through 🙂 !
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♦…on a magickal note
Heart of the Lion
The Solar Eclipse will also be a New Moon in Leo
It will bring with it a bold time of confidence leading to long term success
A brave yet generous mind that by whose successful challenge conquered and ruled to claim the throne with honor and wealth
Proud and Confident the Lion left his unforgettable mark upon his foes
And all the ambitious possibilities that are on the table will now become the anticipated beginnings of the new plans for the future for those brave of heart
♦If by some chance you are one of Donald Trump’s enemies you should by now be running for the Lion has entered the arena
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A welding hood with the proper lens would work great but I think she will be correct in her forecast that many people will be damaging their vision. Trump will probably get the blame.
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Avoid the hoods that automatically darken, they often only go to 13 (welder’s goggles), you need 14. Also, they don’t work, sunlight will not cause them to darken.
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I’m probably destined to be blind already because of my ViewMaster Viewer–lying on the grass in my backyard, clicking away while pointing it skyward to get some excellent sun-provided backlight. Oh well.
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I also recall watching an eclipse as a reflection on folded paper. Do it just right and you can see the crescent moving along. I forgot the technique of course.
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It was similar to this. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html
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I heard if using a welding Glass to use a 14 . you can buy at any welding supply house.. Harbor freight has an auto dim helet that is pretty cheap just make sure you get a #14 glass in it.
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Specifically, the auto-darkening hoods at Harbor Freight only go to 13, and will not teapind to sunlight.
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It is also my understanding that people report vision damage with those. I don’t think they filter the UV properly. I think we’re looking for the metallic coating to do that. HFT’s hoods and filters are mostly just dark…
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Helmet .oops sry
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When I was about ten years old and living in England, there was a total eclipse. My teacher set up some kind of a telescope that projected a picture of the sun onto a piece of paper. She told us NOT to look at the sun as it could blind us. I was amazed at how good the picture of the sun was.
Just prior to the eclipse, she took out a magnifying glass and focused the sunlight onto a piece of cardboard. The cardboard burst into flames. NO WAY were we kids going to look at the sun on that day! Miss Doy was a most wonderful teacher. I still have the book that I was awarded for being top of the class in the exams that year.
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https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html
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You can look directly at the sun for a couple of minutes when it is total. But NOT before or after. Don’t miss out on one of the greatest experiences of your life!
https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/splendor/
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Because none of us are experts, why take a chance with your eyesight? It isn’t necessary.
You won’t know if you have damaged your eyesight immediately, and if you have there is no remedy.
Just like sunburn to the skin, the effects are not felt or noticed immediately. I have a great fear that I will have patients in my office on Tuesday, Aug 22 who woke up with hazy, blurry vision that I cannot fix. It is a huge risk to watch the eclipse even with the use of solar glasses. There is no absolutely safe way to do so other than on TV.
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We are not experts on the sun and proper filtering and neither is the optometrist but NASA has a whole page of safety information on how to view the eclipse properly. There are only a handful of filtering glasses that are certified by NASA for this specific purpose. https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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Exactly zero is the number of glasses certified by NASA. NASA is not in the glasses certifying business. They have issued a recommendation, stated on the page you linked to, that filters should meet an ISO standard (a standard not set by NASA).
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I would call that a distinction without much of a difference, although it is correct.
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I think the distinction makes a big difference. If you search for “NASA certified,” you will find nothing but liars. Do you want to trust your eyes to them? Search the ISO.
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Debra supplied a link to the NASA page. The NASA page contains a link to reputable vendors and provides the ISO certification number to look for. Your criticism is overdone. Really.
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To quote you, “Relax and have a nice day. If that is the worst problem you have today, consider yourself fortunate.” Only trying to be helpful. Really.
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Yes, you are right. Some are NASA approved, not certified. My point is that yes we should have an abundance of caution BUT it can still be viewed safely without fear and I just don’t want people to miss out on a spectacular event (especially if you can get to a point of 100% totality) for fear of harm. If you apply a combination of healthy fear and safety (following to a T the safety guidelines laid out) then there should be no need to just watch it on TV. We all know TV is not the same as real life!
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NASA’s website gives instructions on how to identify the total eclipse, when it is safe to view with the naked eye. If you use solar glasses during the total eclipse, you will not see the sun’s the corona, which is why solar eclipses are so special.
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Driving in stop and go traffic East or West at sunrise or sun set and staring directly at it for a quarter hour or more never seems to get mentioned.
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I think it’s different at sunrise and sunset because it’s filtering through more layers of atmosphere.
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The glasses filter even more than that. Could we have some historical perspective? Ancient people did not all go blind when they saw them.
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I suspect most ancient people hid (except for the priests).
Somewhere in the comments is a link to a BBC article about people who had eye injuries after the 1999 solar eclipse.
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So, when the mention
of the effect on Nature?
The silence is deafening.
Here and the environment.
The birds will stop chirping.
There will be darkness and
silence, very spooky, indeed.
Also a drop in temperature.
If on the water (boating)
expect a fog bank to roll
in, if it is a nice sunny day.
Pea soup type of fog. The
fog happens after the show.
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Caution: The Solar Eclipse
EYE Caution: The Solar Eclipse
would a better title for this post. 😉
The special snowflakes need a little info
on the event so they do not freak out and
think the world is ending. It might be very
hurtful, hurtful and painful, painful to their
misguided little minds. Just say’n. 😉
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Oops. thread; not post. 😉
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Regarding the solar eclipse, I would like to point out that IF the moon were any larger or smaller, IF the sun were any closer or further away, or if the moon were any closer or further away given its size, then we just wouldn’t have this “perfect” event.
Coincidence?
Me thinks not.
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Even Einstein said that there is no way that all this is an accident, that there must be an intelligence behind it all. I agree. Even if I had never read the Bible, nor believed it, I would agree.
If the moon were slightly closer, or slightly further away, in it’s orbit, our oceans would either be immense stagnant ponds, or chaotic turmoil, the tides destroying continents.
This place is not an accident of random chance.
John Denney says:
March 25, 2017 at 2:03 pm
On the one hand, there should be no life in the universe if there is no God:
To replicate, a cell requires two enzymes, helicase to split the DNA lengthwise, and polymerase to reconstruct the missing half of each half. It’s recursive, so the DNA must contain the code for these two enzymes. That code requires about 1800 “rungs” on the DNA ladder, each of which can be 1 of 4 possibilities, so the odds of getting the combination correct for just that information is 1 in 4^1800, which is more than 10^1000.
The entire universe is estimated to have 10^70 atoms. If you gave every atom a million guesses per second for 15 billion years, there would be about 10^100 guesses. Even given that absurd optimism, one would still expect zero to 900 decimal places occurrence of that information content, ignoring the unlikely odds of all the organic chemistry requirements to create an actual DNA strand.
It is also unlikely that that DNA sequence, made of nucleotides, would happen to fall together on the same planet and location as the protein machinery, made of amino acids, capable of “executing” DNA code. The machinery code is arguably even more complex than the DNA code for just those two enzymes, and must also be included in the DNA.
Since the universe is incapable of generating that information, it must have come from outside the universe, which fits with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
But on the other hand, C.S. Lewis, in his Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength), posits that the universe teems with intelligent life, but they all avoid The Dark Planet (earth) where sin is.
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Projection is the safest way either a projection box or small telescope projecting the image onto a screen or wall.
http://www.deepskywatch.com/Articles/how-to-look-at-sun.html
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Also, I have used the telescope projection method previously using a small cheap telescope, if you have one, an erecting prism on the eye piece will make it more convenient to “swing” the image so you can have the viewing screen in a comfortable position.
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It’s peek not peak.
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It’s a quote, but I added a [sic] to indicate that the word is misspelled.
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In the spirit of the “soda tax’, Chicago in making a law that states the solar eclipse, within Cook County, can only be viewed at night.
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Some in the news industry say it can be watched without the glasses in the path of 100% totality. Is this truthful?
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Don’t do it. Not worth the risk.
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See my post below. Don’t deny people- ESPECIALLY those in the totality path- this truly AWESOME event.
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Diane, this article tells you all about what you are asking https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
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YES!!!! If you are in that narrow path of totality http://xjubier.free.fr/tse2017map (between the red lines) then it is ABSOLUTELY SAFE to look at the total eclipse. See the graphic at: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety By the way, the information there is endorsed by the American Academy of Optometry, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Optometric Association. A total solar eclipse (the totality phase) is arguably THE most spectacular natural event people can experience. To give myself credit: I have been a member of an eclipse chasers discussion group for almost 20 years now- many people in the group have chased total solar eclipses ALL OVER THE WORLD- and they do it safely EVERY SINGLE TIME.
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It’s not just “being in the path of 100% totality” – it is safe to watch it without the glasses ONLY during the 1 or 2 minutes of total coverage.
Just because someone is “in the path of totality” does not mean they do not need to use the glasses at all times when it is not completely covered.
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There’ll be so much to see without looking at the sun/moon. The “unnatural” darkness. Bizarre shadows. Every leaf defect will act as a pinhole camera. Imagine watching the movement of the moon across the sun in every leaf shadow. That’s the coolest thing you’ll see. Teachers and parents need to study up on it so they can direct the kids to see it all. I have so many memories of a partial eclipse as a kid. Such a wondrous thing. And I didn’t look at the sun even once. It’s the whole experience. The specific image of the moon crossing in front of the sun is just one small part.
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Why do people believe some random Facebook post is more credible than NASA’s recommendations for viewing an eclipse safely?
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It has called the attention of almost 40,000 people just here, which is an accomplishment, I think. How many of them had read the NASA recommendations, I wonder?
Besides, there is nothing written here that can hurt anyone. The worst thing that could happen is that someone is overly cautious.
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I think the reaction to this is a sad commentary on how people do research—which is to say, they don’t.
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Relax and have a nice day. If that is the worst problem you have today, consider yourself fortunate.
PS: Are you an expert from NASA, or an eye doctor?
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Did my niece Colleen Pinski get credited for this photo?
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Her name is on the bottom right corner of the photograph.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167595/Stunning-image-shows-boy-watching-solar-eclipse–taken-1-5-miles-away.html
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For those who don’t believe some optometrist on Facebook, here is an article on WebMD regarding eye damage that can be caused by improperly viewing the eclipse:
During Eclipse, ‘Your Eye Can Scorch’
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20170809/during-eclipse-your-eye-can-scorch
The hype is true: Look directly at this month’s solar eclipse without good protection, and you can seriously damage your eyes. And not just for a little while.
Just ask Russell Van Gelder, MD, former president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“I have one patient in his 60s who looked at the sun through a telescope when he was 9 years old and still has a central block in his vision,” says Van Gelder, chairman of the ophthalmology department at the University of Washington Medical School.
Your eyes wouldn’t burst into flames. The impact of the sun’s rays is more like a branding iron. “The eye is actually a magnifier, and it is about 3 or 4 times stronger than most hand-held magnifying glasses,” Van Gelder says. And just as a magnifying glass can focus the energy of sunlight enough to set a piece of paper on fire, sunlight focused through the lens of your eye can scorch your retina with little or no warning…
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Still don’t believe it. I am sure this type of event has happened for thousands of years. I know it happened when I was in elementary school in south Mississippi. They marched us outside, gave us pin-holed piece of cardboard, (some kids had welding shields from their dads) and we were told how to ‘view’ it. 2nd graders! Do you think we listened? Nope. Now, at 45 years of age, I still have great vision. And I still know (and am friends with) many of the kids from that class and school. No known problems.
How did people manage for thousands of years? Animals?
Funny thing is, you will see people out there, protecting their faces, only lifting the ‘masks’ to take pulls off their Marlboro’s. You know? Because eyesight is more important than lung function. Things they have seen cause problems their whole life. Real proof of danger! But, will take all this hype about something they have never ‘known’ to cause an issue (only hear the possible danger)… And, CHAOS!.
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I would rather watch the eclipse in real life then on tv you can watch eclipses on YouTube and tv all year long it’s nothing special. even if there are some risks what doesn’t have risk in life? Just test your glasses with a flashlight to make sure they block excessive light smoothly and don’t have tears. And make sure you buy approved glasses. Also if you have kids who are likely to peek around the glasses or run around causing them to fall off use some strong tape or bandaids to keep those suckers from falling off. And be a good parent and watch your children durning dangerous situations. Don’t let them take off the glasses. If you know for sure they can’t behave for their safety simply leave them inside during the event. They will understand when they are older that they couldn’t handle the event.
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That’s fine. No problem for me. I just want people to know what the risks might be. What they do with the information is their decision.
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What happened to chholland @pstel.net? That’s my e-mail address.
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I don’t understand your question.
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Do you want your email to show, because you just typed it yourself in your comment. I will delete it for you, if you want me to.
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I’m sure they’ll be a ton of news stories about those who have gone blind. Makes me sad. If I had children, they would be inside at home that day. Ugh
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Can you do a behind your back selfies pic.behind your back picture of it.
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Could very well damage your camera.
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Reblogged this on robinsnest212 – stories by design.
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Don’t view the eclipse with any glasses including Welders 8, 10, 14 or even 150, it’s not enough. The only true safe method is the shadow box
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Reblogged this on Jessica's Reading Room and commented:
Something to think about for Monday….
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He’s seen many and has this to say about the article to “watch on tv)
http://cs.astronomy.com/asy/b/astronomy/archive/2017/08/14/this-so-called-optometrist-is-dead-wrong.aspx
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The man who posted this is an astronomer, not an eye doctor. Did you read the other article from WebMD posted in the comments? That was written with consultation of an opthomologist.
It’s important to do your own research, but if you are going to talk about possible eye damage, it seems logical to talk to an eye doctor rather than an astronomer.
I am suggesting that each person read as much as possible about this, and check with your own eye doctor if you have doubts.
Just because this one guy (not an eye doctor) says not to worry doesn’t impress me either.
You don’t feel pain when internal damage occurs in your eye, so you won’t know up to 48 hours after the event that damage has happened.
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After the 1999 total eclipse in England:
Eclipse eye damage reports rise
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/417528.stm
Patients with eye damage caused by the eclipse will continue to arrive at UK hospitals well into the weekend, say experts.
Moorfields Eye Hospital, one of the UK’s top centres, has already answered 400 calls on its helpline, and helped 40 people in the accident and emergency department.
And Birmingham City Hospital has had more than 200 calls, and 30 arrivals at casualty.
A spokesman for Moorfields said that the symptoms of eye damage often took up to 48 hours to appear, and predicted a steady stream of casualties.
Ophthalmologists throughout the UK are contributing to a massive research programme gathering information about eclipse-related eye problems. [more]
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I have an idea. Why not have the people who male the glasses provide sheets of the lens material so that schools can put the sheets on a few of the school’s windows. Teachers can have viewing parties for the kids inside their schools.
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Reblogged this on Life on Fire.
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What I hate is that if my children stay home that day or are checked out early, it’s UNexcused!
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I will stay inside my home and protect my vision. My eyes mean more to me than any eclipse!
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When we were kids we absolutely did not look. We did the pinhole paper and watched it through that. Our Mom was right there beside us every second. It was a great science learning experiment. We learned and believed we shouldn’t look at it but still got to see the excitement of it through a science experiment.
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My father worked in steel mills as an engineer. The last solar eclipse he had brought home these very thick plates of glass that the welders have in their face shields for their eyes. I remember the glass was thick and hunter green in color. We looked through those safely at our eclipse. Then today I see all these glasses you can purchase and thought…..well, it’s been a lot of years….maybe technology came this far with a lite weight glass. My choice…..I will stick with what my Dad brought me. He knew his metals, stones and materials. Definitely not worth the risk to purchase!
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Just heard from a cousin in Washington State. They bought five pairs of eclipse glasses from Amazon weeks ago, and now have been told that they are NOT certified!
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Will watch it on TV
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Schools in my city are open as usual on August 21st. Just last week, our newspaper published comments from many, many parents expressing their concern about schools being open that day and the potential harm to their children. School district authorities responded by saying each teacher knew of the dangers and necessary precautions would be taken to keep each student safe. I want to meet the second grade teacher who can keep her eye on 25 feisty 7 yr. olds and make 100% certain not a single child takes a sneak peek.
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Why aew kids going to school in the summer???
I have to wonder why kids are in school in the summer??
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I just attended a NASA-sponsored seminar and was given NASA-approved solar glasses. I was told that I could look at the sun as long as I wanted with these glasses on. Is that correct?
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If it was sponsored by NASA, I think you can trust them! All information offered here is for your consideration and information. Get the facts, and make your decision based on what you have learned.
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There is an alternative to staring at the sun..make a pinhole projector.
It will show you what the sun looks like by the shadow the moon makes as it passes in front of the sun..
NASA recommends these over looking through the glasses.
5mm hole in a card or paper held above a surface is all you need..or do it this way..
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/
This is just one resource but there are many others.
Stay safe and have fun
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What about a welding shield at the highest darkness would that be ok?
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Please explain better why/ how it can cause such severe damage. Why is the sunlight behind the moon so harmful? So if you look less than 30 seconds it won’t hurt your eyes? Please, more details.
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http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20170809/during-eclipse-your-eye-can-scorch
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The eclipse does not make the sun any worse. The dangerous UV rays are always coming toward us, but the high levels of visible light causes us to immediately look away. The partial eclipse reduces the light enough and gives us reason to look directly at the sun, so it makes it more likely we would expose ourselves to that direct UV ray.
When the moon fully blocks the sun, for up to 2m 40s in the center of that band across the country, it is safe to look.
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What about looking at it in a mirror? Not directly, but at an angle?
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Would a welding mask work.
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TV isn’t the only safe way to view the eclipse though. I’ve created a brief video on how to make a pinhole projector, which allows a person to safely view the solar eclipse, by focusing and viewing a reflection of the event, so your eyes never look directly at the sun. https://www.facebook.com/mrleingang/videos/395168027547989/
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This is fake. It’s too far away to do any REAL damage. If you research this, you’ll find that it’s fake as well as why it’s nothing to really worry about. But go ahead and believe this nonsense
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And you are foolish. Read the article from WebMD. It is linked twice in the comments. I really shouldn’t allow your comment at all, lest you convince someone else to fry their eyeballs.
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We are in Kingstree, SC where there will be 100% Totality and all of the public school here and in the surrounding areas…and most of the state…are closed. Private schools are closing at 11:30. Sooo glad this article was posted!!
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Just use a paper towel tube or a tp tube
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Guys! Where can we watch the eclipse on TV? I don’t have cable. I do have internet though.
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See the UPDATE on the eclipse for tv/cyber links (Just added a minute ago above).
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Pingback: High Country 365 Solar Eclipse Guide - High Country 365
Morgan country is at school until 11am I will be looking for the safest glasses I hope we find some be safe everyone especially the children
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County (auto correct..)
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Reblogged this on SweeTweet's Mom Blog!.
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Bullitt County Kentucky, just south of Louisville, schools are closed on Monday 8/21/17. Thank you Bullitt County.
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Beautiful post. Thanks. I am curious about something about No Safe Way to View. What is the harm in the pinhole viewer ?
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That is indirect, rather than direct viewing. I am sure that the certified eclipse glasses are safe too, if they are used properly, but it is important to know the facts, so that we can each make our decision about how we intend to enjoy the eclipse.
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Just to throw a wrench at the monkey our Universities continue to endanger the public.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee says distributed solar eclipse glasses are unsafe
http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2017/08/17/university-wisconsin-milwaukee-says-distributed-solar-eclipse-glasses-unsafe/578498001/
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee distributed glasses for Monday’s total solar eclipse that have been deemed unsafe to use.
The safety certificate provided by New York-based Everything Branded to the university was fake, according to a university press release.
And so it goes.
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My cousin was just advised by Amazon that the glasses they bought from Amazon are not safe. They have been scrambling to find replacements.
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The safe ones are all sold out here. I was going to buy the kiddo and her friends a pair of binoculars (approved and safe for solar viewing even when there is not an eclipse) I told her her and her friends could take turns using it. Sold out.
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I picture lots of stands all along the road with folks who have boxes of glasses just like those folks who sell roses on the street around Mother’s day. I think a lot of people are going to end up damaging their eyes. Not because the proper glasses don’t exist but because we are a nation that voted Obama into the presidency, a nation with Antifa nutters, “I’m with her” folks and other people who simply will do the wrong thing. Heck I’ll bet some folks just use regular sunglasses.
You can’t fix some things.
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Reblogged this on Missouri Photographer Peggy Franz.
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I’ve heard that to test them, look at the sky, before the eclipse. If you see the clouds they aren’t legit. You should only see the sun and darkness everywhere else. The other test was to look at a lot light bulb. It said if they are proper protective glasses you could obly see the silver piece in the middle of the bulb. I don’t have any so i didn’t try..can’t say whether or not either are true. If i decide to get some and venture out, my kids will be inside. They are too young to care and I don’t want to risk their eyesight at all.
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Obion County Schools in Tennessee r open and sent papers home for permission to go outside and view it…….meaning the school won’t be responsible for any damages tht may occur to children. I call bullshit!!!! I think they should b kept inside!!!
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My eyes were damaged by looking at the sun during an eclipse in the 1970’s. Here is a link where my experience was featured on a local news channel this week.
http://newschannel9.com/dont-stare-at-the-sun-a-dayton-womans-warning-ahead-of-the-eclipse
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Thank you for sharing your experience.
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If the media would stop all the sensationalism many people might be safer With them reporting/gossiping about the parties and events to watch the eclipse, kids, and many adults will think a sneak peek will be ok. I’m in Ohio but the timing with schools getting out and those kids who are home because mom and dad are still at work could face a real problem for the rest of their live.
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It’s still Summer here in Northeast, school hasn’t even started yet.
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Around March of 1972 I was stationed in North Carolina and there was a total eclipse in our area. When it happened 3 of us were outside walking, maybe towards the mess hall. I remember all the birds like seagulls and the squirrels ln the trees went kind of crazy. At about the peak time I couldn’t help myself. I peeked up at it. I may have looked up at the right time or maybe my peek was quick enough that I didn’t get any I’ll effects from it. As the saying goes please don’t try this at home. This is just an experience I went through and was lucky.
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Reblogged this on Margery Warder and commented:
A Serious CAUTION about trying to watch the eclipse.
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My granddaughter’s, school her in Texas, will not allow students outside the school that day
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Use binoculars or a telescope to protect the eclipse image on some Suitable surface!
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Not your retina!
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School isn’t even in for 2 more weeks here so I guess I’ll have to close the curtains and we will watch it on the net.
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If I record it with my digital movie camera then darken it when I download it to my computer, will that take care of the harmful effects?
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I believe you need a special filter for your movie camera. Otherwise, your camera will be damaged.
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I’ve heard and read the selfie mode on phones can be safe. Is that true?
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It depends on whose advice you take. Apple says it is safe. NASA says why take a chance?
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Sell.. Very true. Thanks!
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Here is NASA’s article about using smart phones:
Click to access Photographing%20the%20Eclipse%20with%20your%20Smartphone.pdf
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Here in the Southern San Joaquin Valley…. many schools are running a ‘rainy day’ schedule. (All Indoors)… just to keep kids out of the temptation.
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Is it OK to drive a car with regular sun glasses on and not stare at the sky…just drive? I have to go to Dr. and I do not have glasses. Thanks!
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Read the other article linked above – Don’t Wreck Your Car During The Eclipse (and other tips). Yes, you can drive if you don’t look at the sun, although you should probably allow extra time to get there.
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Reblogged this on The Future's In The Air.
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I agree. You cannot get your vision back.
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I looked at the eclipse like an idiot! Even using the special cardboard solar glasses my left iris, which is blue, has a white crescent mark on it! I go to the eye doctor tomorrow. I will never view another eclipse again through anything other than television!
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What glasses did you use? Brand? Can you share a photo?
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