How can you safely observe the sun?

Answer 1

There is metalized plastic film specifically made for this purpose. For naked-eye observations, you can buy what are often called "eclipse glasses" (google for them) with this film in it. For use on a telescope, you can buy a sheet of film and make your own filter, or buy filters ready-made for your telescope. There are also a variety of more complex (and expensive) options, such as Herschel wedges and hydrogen-alpha filters, if you get seriously into it.

Some old telescopes came with solar filters that attach to the eyepiece. These are dangerous - they have been know to shatter from heat buildup, exposing your eye to both flying glass shards and concentrated sunlight.

There are various home-grown solutions, but you risk eye damage if the material you use isn't what you thought it was. Most forms of silvered mylar will work. For safety, it's best to use two layers, in case one layer has holes in the coating. But, best to spend a few bucks on a proper filter than risk eye damage. Exposed and developed film only works with silver based black and white film. Color film or dye-based (C41 process) B&W film is NOT safe.

Answer 2

It is actually safer to see the sun directly during an eclipse than not for the same amount of time. However people look longer because it is darker. Both ways can damage your eyes in seconds. So direct observation is not safe. And the word "safer" was only used to describe the two situations.

Welders glass of solar filters are ok but you run the risk of a crack (even a hairline) and destroying your eye.

Indirectly is the only I repeat only safe way. A pin hole in a sheet of cardboard, reflection on a wall or ceiling in a darken room using a mirror

Answer 3

Get a piece of welder's glass or the foil glasses from a science store. Not just any foil, but the kind made to block most of the sun. If you can't get that, poke a hole in a piece of paper and hold it up over another piece of paper and look at the small amount of light that gets through onto the other sheet.

Answer 4

If you don't want to buy any special equipment, you can take floppy disks like you use on your computer, pull the metal part aside so you can see the disk itself, and look through that. You may want to look through 2.

Answer 5

http://solar-center.stanford.edu/observe/


Here's a website all about it. Don't look directly at the sun, you'll go blind.

Answer 6

By projection or by very dark GLASS, not plastic. Welders GLASS for example. And only for limited times.

Projection is safest.

PLASTICS afford no UV protection.

Answer 7

it is safe to see the sun in sunglasses.

Answer 8

Take photographic film. Remove it from its contasiner so its completely exposed.
develope the film.
use the negative so produced.

Answer 9

you use a telescope with a solar lense (go into any telescope store and they'll know what to give you)

Answer 10

reflective bowl of water