Looking for info on the giant sunspot of January, 2023? Click here.
You realized way back you need to by no means take a look at the sun immediately. Gazing sunward with out eye safety can completely damage your eyes, even inflicting blindness. However Solar Cycle 25 is ramping up, and there’s going to be an rising variety of spots on the sun within the coming years. Look under for recommendations on observing the sun safely.
Do NOT use these methods.
No matter you do, by no means take a look at the sun immediately with out a protected filter in place to guard your eyes.
Apart from your unprotected eyeballs, listed here are another issues you need to not use: Do NOT use sun shades, polaroid filters, smoked glass, uncovered coloration movie, X-ray movie, or photographic impartial density filters.
DO use these methods for observing the sun safely
Secure industrial solar filters for a telescope. When you have a ‘scope, you’ll want a protected solar filter on the sky finish of it to be able to seek for sunspots or watch a solar eclipse safely. Don’t use a filter on the eyepiece finish of your telescope. There’s an excessive amount of to say about solar filters to incorporate on this article, so we refer you to Fred Espenak’s article on safe solar filters. In the event you don’t have a ‘scope, you continue to have loads of choices, corresponding to …
A house-rigged, oblique viewing technique. Making a pinhole digital camera is one other nice choice, as a result of it lets your loved ones and buddies get an excellent view of the sun, too. We advocate this article by the masters of do-it-yourself science on the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Their article on how to view solar eclipses safely teaches you to make a simple pinhole projector. With it, you possibly can shine the sun’s picture onto a flat floor and impress your folks and neighbors whereas giving everybody (together with your self) a cool expertise.
However don’t go but. There’s extra …
Native viewing at an astronomy membership, park or nature middle. We extremely advocate this route for any form of eclipse, any daytime solar viewing, or any nighttime astronomical occasion. In the event you watch amongst different beginner astronomers and informal sky gazers, you’ll have enjoyable, study astronomy and get an amazing view of the objects and occasions happening within the sky. SkyandTelescope.com offers a way to search for astronomy golf equipment in your space. Or try the NASA Night Sky Network, which is one other approach to search. Right here’s a search web page from Go-astronomy.com. And listed here are astronomy golf equipment and societies affiliated with the Astronomical League, certainly one of this nation’s most established confederations of beginner astronomers.
Business solar eclipse glasses. You may discover these on-line or at an area nature middle, or museum. Photo voltaic eclipse glasses are tremendous simple to make use of, and so they’re form of cool-looking.
And there’s nonetheless extra …
Welder’s glass, #14 or darker. Be positive it’s #14 or darker. The wonderful thing about welder’s glass is that it permits you to view the sun immediately. Plus, welder’s glass is a little more sturdy than industrial eclipse glasses. In the event you’re like me, between solar eclipses you’ll overlook the place you set your industrial eclipse glasses. With the welder’s glass, you possibly can all the time add it to your rock assortment. Seek for an area “welding provide” firm.
Final however not least, there’s …
On-line viewing. When there’s a solar eclipse, many organizations supply on-line viewing. That is likely to be an excellent choice for you, if, when the eclipse happens, you’re within the incorrect a part of the world to see it (when it’s nighttime exterior for you). The drawback of on-line viewing is that you simply don’t get the enjoyable of seeing the occasion with your loved ones, buddies and neighbors. On-line viewing is nothing like the complete expertise of a total solar eclipse, which is nothing wanting mind-blowing. Plus, any view of an eclipse is best than none. Pleased viewing!
Backside line: There’s a large sunspot seen in January 2023. Some ideas for observing the sun safely, plus movies and hyperlinks, right here.
