how long can you look at a solar eclipse before going blind
How long can you look at a solar eclipse before going blind?
Answer: Looking at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause serious damage to your eyes, leading to blindness. The retina can be damaged by the intense visible and invisible radiation from the sun during an eclipse.
It is never safe to look directly at the sun or a solar eclipse, even with sunglasses or through unfiltered camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars, or other optical devices. However, during a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the sun, it is safe to look at the eclipse with the naked eye only when the sun is completely obscured by the moon.
If you are viewing a partial solar eclipse, the general rule is: \textbf{NEVER look at the sun during the eclipse without certified solar viewing glasses or filters.} Even a short exposure to the sun’s harmful rays during an eclipse can cause permanent damage to your eyes or even blindness. It is recommended to use solar viewing glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for solar viewing.
To enjoy the beauty of a solar eclipse safely, it is best to use an indirect viewing method like a pinhole projector or solar viewer to observe the eclipse without risking your eyesight. Remember, safety first when witnessing natural phenomena like a solar eclipse.