Sky gazers warned not to stare directly at eclipse

Optometrists are warning people who want to view tomorrow's eclipse not to stare at the Sun.

According to the Association of Optometrists Ireland, exposing the eye to the Sun for as little as one minute can result in sight-threatening damage to the eye.

Tomorrow morning between 8.30am and 10.30am, weather permitting, Ireland will have a perfect view of a near total solar eclipse.

The peak will happen around 9.30am, when more than 90% of the Sun's surface will be blocked out by the moon.

It is an unusual event, with the last solar eclipse visible from Ireland happening in 1999 and the next one not due for over a decade.

But sky gazers are being strongly warned not to look directly at the sun with the naked eye or through ordinary telescopes or binoculars.

The Association of Optometrists Ireland said those who wanted to look at the Sun during the eclipse should use special glasses.

Another option is to make a small hole in a card, hold it up to the sun and project the image on the ground or a second piece of white card.

Read Will Goodbody's guide: What will we see? Where are the best places to watch it?

Watch a special programme on the eclipse on RTÉ's News Now tomorrow at 9.20am.

How to view tomorrow's eclipse - Watch our report: 

Some methods for viewing the eclipse:

Using a mirror

Cover a small flat mirror with paper that has a small hole cut in it. The hole does not have to be circular but should be no wider than 5mm. A larger hole will produce a brighter but fuzzier image.

Prop up or clamp the mirror so that it reflects the sunlight onto a pale screen or wall, ideally through a window. A projection distance of five metres (16.4 feet) will produce an image of the Sun just over 5cm across.

The eclipse can be seen in the image as the Moon starts to take a "bite" out of the Sun, appearing upside down compared with its position in the sky.

If clouds move across the face of the Sun, they can be seen as well.

The smaller the mirror and further away the wall, the sharper the image will be. Experiment with the distances and mirror size.

Do not look into the mirror during the eclipse as this is just as dangerous as looking directly at the Sun.

A big advantage of this method is that it allows a number of people to watch the eclipse at the same time - ideal for schools.

Pinhole viewer

Pinholes allow light through them and can create an image like a lens. Make a small hole in a piece of card using a compass or other sharp-pointed implement.

Standing with your back to the Sun, position another white card behind the one with the pinhole so that the Sun projects an image onto it.

An alternative method uses a cereal box or something similar. Make a pinhole in one edge, point it towards the Sun, and a tiny image will be seen projected onto the inside of the box.

A piece of white paper or card placed inside will make it easier to see.

Never look through the pinhole at the Sun.

Projection from binoculars or a telescope

Cover one eyepiece of a pair of binoculars with a lens cap and face the "big" end of the binoculars towards the Sun. The uncovered lens will project an image of the Sun that can be cast onto a plain card held about a foot away. Use the focus wheel to sharpen the image.

Ideally, the binoculars should be fastened to a tripod or stand. A cardboard "collar" with holes cut to fit the large lenses will shade the card on which the image is projected.

A small telescope can be used the same way.

Colander method

Take an ordinary kitchen colander and stand with your back to the Sun holding it in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.

The holes in the colander can be used to project multiple eclipse images onto the paper.

Solar Eclipse Organised Viewing Events:

A number of astronomy clubs and organisations will be letting the public use special telescopes at viewing events around the country tomorrow.

Trinity College Dublin – Front Square – 8am-10.30am

Blackrock Castle Observatory Cork – 8.30am-10.30am

Astronomy Ireland headquarters Blanchardstown, Dublin – 8am-11am

Queens Belfast, outside Whitla Hall – 8.15am-10.45am

Galway Astronomy Club, Toft Park, Salthill – 7.30am-10.30am

Dunsink Observatory, Castleknock - 8.30am - 10.30am

Scopes and Space at the Papal Cross, Phoenix Park, Dublin - from 8am

St Cronan's Stargazers at St Cronan's National School Bray Co Wicklow

Midlands Astronomy Club at Athlone Castle Co Westmeath 

Shannonside Astronomy Club at The Stone Circle Grange  Co Limerick

DEISE Astronomy Club at Dungarvan Square Co Waterford 

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Sky gazers warned not to stare directly at eclipse

Dengan url

http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2015/03/sky-gazers-warned-not-to-stare-directly.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Sky gazers warned not to stare directly at eclipse

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Sky gazers warned not to stare directly at eclipse

sebagai sumbernya