2007-03-19 21:53:15 · 10 answers · asked by Sairam 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
First of all, you don't want to look at the sun directly at any time. It is only when the moon covers the entire disk of the sun that it is safe to look at the eclipse. But during that time, it is safe (even with the temperature of the corona). The problem is that the phase of totality where the sun's disk is covered lasts at most a few minutes and when the sun is exposed again, you can get damage to the eyes if you are not careful.
You can eat during an eclipse. That causes no harm at all.
2007-03-20 01:18:24 · answer #1 · answered by mathematician 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's no more dangerous than staring at the Sun any other time. It's just more tempting to stare at the Sun for a longer period of time, hence the reminder not to stare at the Sun.
Sounds like a lame reminder, but even smart people can wind up doing things that damage their body. Isaac Newton wondered why an image of the Sun was still visible even after a person looked away. He also noticed that the longer he stared at the Sun, the longer the image persisted after he looked away. He once pushed the limits to around three hours to see how long the image would persist - the result was that, for about three days, he was blind for all intents and purposes and any light at all would cause him serious pain.
I'm surprised he had such a hard time figuring out what was happening. He understood about the eye's lens focusing an image on the eye's retina. You'd think he would have done some experiments involving magnifying glasses and ants.
2007-03-20 03:52:13 · answer #2 · answered by Bob G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The part of the sun that is left exposed during a total eclipse is the so-called "solar atmosphere" or corona. For reasons not currently known, the corona is actually much hotter than the visible surface of the sun (the photosphere) which is blocked during an eclipse.
Why does this matter? Because the hotter the material of the sun gets, the bluer the spectrum of the light it gives off gets. The corona may not look that bright, but its light is unusually rich in the very damaging ultraviolet light. The spectacle of the eclipse is so beautiful that you're going to be tempted to stare, and it's not so dazzlingly bright that you'll necessarily suspect that you are damaging your retinas.
Normal, full intensity sunlight does more damage over the same time of exposure, but you'd know to look away. As for not eating during an eclipse, that I've never heard of, but there wouldn't be any scientific reason to not do so that I can think of.
2007-03-19 22:13:24 · answer #3 · answered by J Dunphy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Even though the light of the Sun may seem to be gone it is still emitting harmful radiation which can damaging to the retina of you eyes.Have you ever see some one arc welding and he is using a helmet with a dark color visor.He does so because of the intense ultraviolet light. It's the same with the Sun.I have never heard of not eating during a solar eclipse
2007-03-19 22:25:59 · answer #4 · answered by silverback7m 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the solar eclipse is when the moon goes in front of the sun. Unless the moon is exactly in front of the sun, which is quite rare, not all of it is covered. Even if the moon is exactly in front of it, there will still be a slight halo around it. It's basically like looking at a smaller part of the sun with your naked eye. It's still just as powerful, just a smaller portion.
Solar eclipses in movies, where the entire place goes dark, are extremely rare.
The not eating thing must be superstition...
2007-03-19 21:58:56 · answer #5 · answered by chinkyshinhwaluv 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, you never want to look at the sun directly, whether it is eclipsing or not, as it can harm your vision. However, I don't know why you shouldn't eat during a solar eclipse. Haven't heard that one before.
2007-03-19 21:57:05 · answer #6 · answered by ♫ frosty ♫ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the sun still emits the same amount of rays but when it's dark your pupils widen and it lets more light it and unfortuantely, more harmful rays in. I don't see how that not eating thing could be true.
2007-03-20 11:21:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the light that does get around the moon is 100 times more intense than normal and it will cook your eyeballs. also the no eating is just an old myth from the elizabethan age.
2007-03-20 04:00:18 · answer #8 · answered by captcosmos420 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The not eating thing sounds superstitious. You need to get into the present century.
2007-03-19 23:58:24 · answer #9 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
...nacked?
2007-03-19 22:36:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋