when i was in england a long time ago there was a solar eclipse and my mom told me not to look at it or it will blind you. how would it blind you?? i thought it was just when the moon covers up the sun for a couple of minutes??!! wth is she talkin about!??
2007-03-21 13:39:50 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The sun is still there, even when its behind the moon. The radiation of the photosphere (the bright area around the sun that you can only see when there is a total eclipse) is more dangerous to the eyes than even the full sun is. Its hotter than the sun and has a lot more ultraviolet radiation (that's the radiation that can cause blindness, cancer, etc.)
And the moon doesn't cover the sun for long, so its possible to be looking at it, thinking the shadow is there and then suddenly the sun moves from behind the moon and shines right into your eyes.
2007-03-21 13:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mom was right..! During a total solar eclipse the moon only covers up the *visible* part of the sun. That leaves an area of the solar disc still completely exposed, and from that area comes ultraviolet radiation. UV radiation can damage your eyes and even cause blindness. The dangerous thing about all this is that it's so easy to look directly at the eclipse because the visible brilliance of the sun is gone. Don't do it..!
2007-03-21 13:55:55 · answer #2 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can't go permanently blind by staring at the sun (really!) but you can go temporarily blind - like for a month or two, but that takes real effort.
You're just not supposed to stare directly at the sun, even if it's mostly covered up. It's bad for your eyes. People are told they'll go blind during an eclipse because that's the only time people are very likely to stare at the sun for long periods of time.
2007-03-21 13:54:50 · answer #3 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Looking at the sun can blind you any time. During a total eclipse, a blindingly bright part of the sun suddenly appears as the Moon starts to move off centre.
Bear in mind that during the eclipse the environment goes dark like night. Your pupils open up like they do in the dark – then suddenly the brilliant sun invades your opened pupils.
2007-03-21 13:54:16 · answer #4 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason people are warned not to look at the sun during an eclipse is because the sun is so bright that it can damage your eyes. The danger is not any worse during an eclipse than normally, But normally nobody wants to look at the sun because it's painfully bright. There are reports that farmers moved their livestock into the barns during an eclipse in order to protect their eyes. This was nonsense, because cows have no reason to look at an eclipse! Only people want to look at it! There are filters available that make viewing the sun safe.
2007-03-21 14:06:01 · answer #5 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a SOLAR eclipse, then simple physics say no.
But then again, since the moon is smaller than the sun, the sunlight that leaked through would be extra strong. And when the ring occurred....
2007-03-21 13:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well the moon does cover up the sun for a little bit your eyes are still receiving the outline brightness of the sun, however lunar eclipses are safe to look at
2007-03-21 13:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Earth's photograph voltaic eciplses are actually not unique in a single way, yet ARE unique in yet another. not unique: The moon passes in front of the sunlight. all the planets with moon will adventure photograph voltaic eclipses quicker or later, as considered from the planet's floor. unique: In an entire photograph voltaic eclipse, the moon covers the sunlight with a precise tournament, giving the magnificent web pages that we see. it is by technique of the fact the moon is 4 hundred cases smaller than the sunlight, however the sunlight is 4 hundred cases extra away, so as that they've a similar obvious length interior the sky. so some distance as i understand, there is nowhere else interior the photograph voltaic gadget the place this occurs. (please maximum magnificent me of i'm incorrect right here)
2016-11-27 20:50:32 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh I bet that's a bit of the ole' horsecrap, you can probably look at it a little bit and it is ok, but it is possible that staring at it for a long time, maybe the edges of the sun give off dangerous radiation so don't do it a whole lot but I am sure a little bit is fine. You know they told me that, but I'll be if I'm never seeing an eclipse with my own eyes and I sure looked right at one and I'm not blind ok but I didn't stare and stare and stare, whatever.
2007-03-21 13:48:12 · answer #9 · answered by netthiefx 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the sun is angry at britain
2007-03-21 13:43:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋