DOs AND DON'Ts FOR OBSERVING A SOLAR ECLIPSE

DOs

  • Before onset of totality, it is best to view only a reflected image or projection of the sun.

·         Project the image of the sun on a shaded wall through a pin hole.

·         A small mirror covered with a piece of paper having a circular hole of diameter (1-2 cm) (also provided in the kit) can be used to project the image of the sun on a shaded wall.

·         A small telescope or binoculars can be used to project the image of the sun on a white card/screen/wall. If binoculars or telescope has any plastic parts, take necessary precautions to protect them from heating and melting by sunlight.

·         Direct viewing of the partially eclipsed sun should be done only using a scientifically tested filter certified to be safe. A dark welder's glass (No.14) is ideal. Use only one of your eyes for viewing the TSE. In all cases, please examine the filter before use. A filter with pin holes/scratches must not be used. Don't touch, fold or wipe the film with your fingers, under any circumstances. Any scratch or fold on the film would render it unsafe for viewing the eclipsed sun.

·         During totality of eclipse, look at the sun only intermittently.

·         Preferably, an experienced person should accompany eclipse watchers to announce the beginning and the end of totality.

DON’Ts

·         Don't attempt to observe the partial or annular phase of any solar eclipse with naked eyes.

·         Never look at the sun through a telescope or binoculars. (In fact, you don't need these instruments to watch a solar eclipse.)

·         Don't use any filter that simply reduces the visible intensity of the sun. Fifty-two percent of the sun's rays are in the infrared region of the spectrum. Damage to the eye is predominantly caused by this invisible infrared energy.

·         Don't use smoked glass, colour film, sunglasses, non silvered black & white film, photographic neutral density filters and polarising filters. They are not safe.

·         Don't use solar filters designed to thread into eye pieces and often sold with inexpensive telescopes.

·         Don't look at a reflection of the sun from coloured water.

·         Don't look at the totally eclipsed sun continuously; do it for a few seconds, intermittently.