Can you damage your eyes by looking at a full moon through an unfiltered telescope on a clear night?

Question

"The Moon is not bright enough to cause eye damage (it only reflects about 7% of the sunlight hitting it). You may, however, turn into a werwolf."

If your telescope magnifies 100 times then wouldnt it magnify to 7 times that of the sun since it reflects 7% of the sun's light?

Answer 1

This happened to me! Yikes! It was a full moon and I aimed the 24" Dobsonian at it without any filter. It was cool until I stepped away from the scope. I didn't realize that I was taking in so much light. My pupil constricted, probably to its smallest possible size and blinded me in that eye. But, it was only temporary and my vision came back in a few minutes and there doesn't seem to be any damage to that eye. I wouldn't recommend doing this twice!

Answer 2

No. I speak from experience, having 20-20 vision, and having looked at the moon without a filter, across the years, many, many times (this assumes that you do not have a diseased condition of the eye, e.g., glaucoma, or other disorder).

You might experience some eyestrain, however, because the full moon is very bright. This is easy to solve by purchasing a moon filter which fits inside the eyepiece of the telescope, cutting down on the glare, and actually making it easier to see various details (crater rims, mountain ranges, etc.).

Another tip for lunar observations. It is better to view the moon when it is at "first quarter" or "last quarter" (half-moon). These phases are easy to keep track of - most calendars list them, and there are webpages and even widgets that will keep you informed of the various phases of the moon. Observing the moon when it's only half illuminated substantially reduces the glare present during full moon, and by observing both first quarter (waxing) and last quarter (waning) you get to see the entire face, in halves, 14 days apart.

The sun, however, can permanently blind you, even without a telescope. Never look directly at it, and especially not through any kind of magnifying device.

Answer 3

It depends on where the Moon is in relation to you and the Sun. If you are between the Sun and the Moon, i.e., the Sun's behind you when you're looking at the Moon, then you're probably ok. But if the Moon is between you and and the Sun, like you take a peek during a Solar Eclipse, when the Sun is in front of you when you look at the Moon, it'll probably be the last thing you see.

Some people's eyes are more sensitive than others. You're certainly not going to fry your retina as you would if you looked at the Sun. But, if you're sensitive, you might experience some discomfort, or, maybe as one poster said, some temporary impairment. You might take a quick peek. See how it affects you.

Answer 4

Needn't be a worry. The albedo or reflectivity of the moon is a paltry .07 compared to the earth's .34. It looks very bright but actually the moon is a poor reflector of sunlight.

Answer 5

In my 14" looking at the moon unfiltered is a bit torturous and bleaches out my vision. I don't think there's a lot to worry about but I think it's best to use a filter.

Answer 6

No. you only need special filter in front of the telescope if you want to look at the sun.

Answer 7

I wouldn't think so. The light it's reflecting isn't that bright though it might cause eye strain if you do it long enough.

Answer 8

No. It can be uncomfortably bright, and it will definitely wreck your dark adaptation for a while, but it's no brighter than sunlit asphalt.

Answer 9

you might be looking at yo mama's butt