I know Scientists say that it is harmful, a viewer may go blind, etc.. But think of this: In ancient times, people did not have warnings / predictions of when such events will take place...people were out unawares in the open skies, suddenly the eclipse takes place, they look up..men, women, kids...
Are the Scientists telling us that all of those people went blind? I don't think so...What do you think?
2007-04-14 23:04:58 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
read what you have written closely.
"MAY" go blind.
this doesn't mean they ALL DID go blind.
2007-04-14 23:07:01 · answer #1 · answered by shoby_shoby2003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See, as you said in ancient times, people did not have Mylar glasses to see solar eclipses. But, the eclipses were predicted by a few astronomers and scientists of that time. Predictions were done but people did not know their after-effects.
But when Galileo looked at a solar eclipse, he lost his sight completely. This warned the other people that it is harmful to look at a solar eclipse with naked eyes and is also harmful to look at sun for a prolonged period without any protection.
But there is one major point that people DID go blind at that time especially those who were unaware of the after-effects.
Also, if you might be thinking about the period before Galileo's birth, people many a times didn't even notice that a partial eclipse is taking place.
They did realise that a total eclipse is taking place but I think they had some common sense that we should not look at the sun because it's strong rays of light might hurt our eyes.
For eg. We all know that our eyes will be hurt if we look at the sun during a solar eclipse or even otherwise.
Hence what I feel is that the concept which the scientists have explained to us is completely correct and I don't oppose it.
Think over my explanation.
2007-04-15 02:54:16 · answer #2 · answered by Shivani P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is the truth on solar eclipses. Without the moon, the sun is so bright that you do not look at it. And if you do, you see yellowish spots in your eyes for some time. This may be from permanant damage and the only way to tell for sure is to have your eyes examined before the eclipse and then again after. During the eclipse, it is actually "safer" than not during an eclipse because it is not so bright. HOWEVER...because it is not so bright you look LONGER. The UV rays are still there and your eyes are still burnt. So....want to take a chance? With or without the moon, it is only safe to look at the sun by reflection from a mirror to a wall or ceiling, or pin hole viewing.
2007-04-15 01:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by orion_1812@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looking at the sun is always harmful to your eyes. It doesn't matter if it's during a solar eclipse or at another time. The sun rays are not stronger or anything during an eclipse. Only when the sun is completely covered by the moon is it save to look at it.
Also you need to look at it for a longer time to go blind but even if you only look for a short time your eyes can be damaged.
So if you want your eyesight to be as good as possible for your entire life, never ever look directly at the sun.
2007-04-14 23:16:18 · answer #4 · answered by Voice of Insanity 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fine till the sun comes back out, Think man in ancient times they watched it as a reflection on a wall through a small hole cut in a cover that hung over the window, allowing the Sun to shine on the opposite wall.
2007-04-18 15:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
during the solar eclipse more uv ray are emitted and hence direct exposure to such ray can cause damage to the retina.
hence human can lose their eyesight depending on the volume of uv rays the eye sight will damage the retina. but those who just had a glance will not really lose eyesight but can cause damage.
2007-04-15 00:24:59 · answer #6 · answered by janam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the uv rays which emerge during total solar eclipse are strong compared at other times it damages the cells within the retina of the eye,which leads to defects in u'r eyes
2007-04-14 23:08:58 · answer #7 · answered by sam s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those were the 'guinea pigs' who tested the phenomenon for the scientists.
It didn't take long for people in each culture to figure out that staring at the eclipse might cause them to go blind.
Some things make rational sense at face value. This is one of them.
2007-04-14 23:09:51 · answer #8 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you stared at it for a long time then yes it may harm you verry little in future but if just for 5-6 second then no problem by the way u should have taken care abt that i saw that only in t v though i wanna be a an astronomer
2016-05-20 03:25:10 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common sense tells people not to look at the Sun during day time. What do you think?
2007-04-15 00:49:53 · answer #10 · answered by Tsuki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah i dont think it is good for our eyes, but i dont think everyone went blind either. ancient times people were really good at story telling, and retelling history maybe they became aware of such things by oral histories
2007-04-14 23:11:20 · answer #11 · answered by trandru 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋