A solar eclipse can be an amazing thing to witness, especially as they happen so rarely. On average, there are between two and five solar eclipses in a year and most are only visible in certain parts of the world.
It’s important to be prepared when a solar eclipse is upcoming, as staring directly at the sun can burn out a person’s retinas and leave them blind. Let’s take a look at five pieces of safety equipment and best practices to invest in before the next event so you can ensure being able to safely view a solar eclipse.
1. A Pair of Solar Glasses
Solar glasses are those that are tinted, made of special materials, and have been specifically designed to avoid any damage to the user’s eyes while looking directly at the sun. Looking at the sun with your eyes can cause temporary or even permanent blindness, so you’ll definitely want a pair of solar glasses.
2. A Specially Equipped Camera
A rare opportunity like this should be photographed but, much like a person’s eyes, ordinary cameras can’t be pointed directly at the sun, either. Standard cameras can melt or start smoking when attempting to photograph the sun. You’ll want a solar filter (made out of the same material as the lenses on the glasses), a camera with a good focal length (300 minimum!), and a tripod.
3. A Telescope or Binoculars
There are a lot of awesome effects, like solar gasses on the sun’s edges, that can only be viewed through binoculars or a telescope. However, as with the previous entries, you’ll also want to make sure you have solar filters on these as well. The sun’s powerful radiation will only be magnified by the lenses, making it even more likely that you suffer retinal damage without the use of filters.
4. A Handheld Solar Viewer
If you can’t get a hold of anything with a solar filter on it by the time the eclipse comes, there is a trick that you can use to safely view the event. Take a piece of cardboard that’s at least six inches in length. Cut a hole the size of a quarter in the center, then cover the outside with aluminum foil. Poke a pinhole in the center, then put a piece of white paper on the inside. You can then see the reflection of the eclipse through the paper safely.
5. An Airplane Ticket
Depending on where you live, an airplane ticket might be the most important thing in your quest to see the eclipse. Eclipses follow a certain path and they’re only visible a certain number of miles from that path. If you’re too far away, you might not get a chance to see it – unless you purchase an airline ticket to a city where it’ll be visible.
A solar eclipse can be very dangerous to the viewer if they aren’t properly protected. However, with these five pieces of safety equipment, you can enjoy the next exciting eclipse safely and without any damage to your retinas.
