Ahead of the solar eclipse here are some tips to ensure you don’t damage your eyesight while enjoying the show.
1. Never look directly at the sun or use any instruments like binoculars, telescopes or cameras to view the sun directly. Doing so can permanently damage your eyesight.
2. The only safe way to view the eclipse is indirectly, through a device such as a pinhole projector. This cheap and easy method projects the sun’s image onto a screen, such as a sheet of white paper or cardboard.
3. Never point an unprotected camera lens at the sun as this can cause permanent damage to the camera and to your eyes. To take photos of the sun without damaging your camera, you will need to use a solar filter recommended by your camera manufacturer.
Karen Sparrow, Head of Professional Development at the AOP, adds: “It’s important for the public not to lose sight of their eyes during Friday’s eclipse. Looking at the sun directly can cause permanent damage to your eyesight. You only have to look at how a camera works to see the impact. Without the correct filter, pointing a camera at the eclipse can damage the electronics – so just imagine what it can do to your eyes. The only safe way to photograph the sun is by using an appropriate filter. The only safe way to view the sun is indirectly and perhaps the best way to get a good view is to watch it on television.”