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[tonysidaway]

how does this display the solar eclipse? do you just see a shadow or something?

It's a pinhole camera, so you'll see a projection of whatever is along the line of whatever the pinhole is pointing at (in this case, over your left shoulder as you face away from the sun). The contrast of the image, and thus its perceived quality, will be affected by the lighting conditions around you, so the best way to use this might be in a room with a window that faces the sun, with the blinds or curtains half drawn so your eyes will be used to the gloom. The quality of the image will markedly improve in any case as the eclipse progresses and reduces the light levels.

 

[aceface]

Going to a beach near Charleston to watch the eclipse tomorrow. Can't wait!! I hope the weather cooperates and clouds go away.

 

[jfkgoblue]

I'm in Nashvile for this, and the city is so very crowded. Downtown Nashville was absolutely packed.

Also Central time keeps throwing me off, gotta keep reminding myself that GoT is at 8 tonight instead of 9.

 

[robotrock]

Walmart sells eclipse glasses?

 

[Turbowaffles]

I wasn't able to get any special glasses for this. I'm boned right? No way I can look at it without frying my eyes?

 

[ironmang]

Walmart sells eclipse glasses?

You can call but they're very likely to be sold out. I'm out of totality by a few states and they've been sold out here for over a week.

A list of libraries you can try that were sent glasses and are holding events for the eclipse. They might have just given out glasses days or weeks ago but I'm hoping some are holding them until tomorrow to both bring people in and give people some last minute, non-scalping chances at grabbing a pair.

I wasn't able to get any special glasses for this. I'm boned right? No way I can look at it without frying my eyes?

You can try the libraries I posted above or take a shot with craigslist. Beware though that craigslist could have fakes though and you really don't want fakes.

 

[Philia]

Is it really just a couple of minutes?

 

[Javaman]

Pop tart wrappers work in a pinch. Make sure you use 2 or 3 layers.

 

[Asbel]

It's a pinhole camera, so you'll see a projection of whatever is along the line of whatever the pinhole is pointing at (in this case, over your left shoulder as you face away from the sun). The contrast of the image, and thus its perceived quality, will be affected by the lighting conditions around you, so the best way to use this might be in a room with a window that faces the sun, with the blinds or curtains half drawn so your eyes will be used to the gloom. The quality of the image will markedly improve in any case as the eclipse progresses and reduces the light levels.

Any reason why aluminum foil is often used for the pinhole?

 

[tonysidaway]

Is it really just a couple of minutes?

That's the typical duration of totality. The moon starts to eat a big chunk out of the sun much earlier, though. In Portland, for instance, the total duration is predicted to be just over two-and-a-half hours, peaking at just over one hour in.

Check out the details for your own location here, complete with a simulation:

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/

 

[jfkgoblue]

Is it really just a couple of minutes?

Between 2 and 2 1/2 minutes for totality, like 3 hours for when the Sun will start to be obscured to it finishing being obscured.

 

[noquarter]

how does this display the solar eclipse? do you just see a shadow or something?

It was answered above, but yeah, just a projection. Is the same concept as a piece of paper with a pinhole in it, but enclosed to allow a little better definition. Not as good as having glasses, but allows you to 'see' the eclipse.

Is it really just a couple of minutes?

That should be for totality. The start of the eclipse will be like an hour before and last for an hour after (will depend on where you're at, but might be more or less, this site can help you out.

Any reason why aluminum foil is often used for the pinhole?

Not totally sure, but think it has to do with it not being translucent, commonly found, and easily pierced.

 

[Technosteve]

would polarized sunglass work?

 

[xxracerxx]

would polarized sunglass work?

NO

 

[Technosteve]

fine i won't look at the sun, jeeze

 

[LostMyNarbles]

How does the whole "Don't look" thing work? If I go out tomorrow on say a run, or just to go shopping do I get eye damage just glancing at the sun or is it a "Stare at it for too long" kind of deal. I'm going to be paranoid all day if it is the former. I live in NJ so it doesn't even look like we get the full eclipse treatment.

 

[xxracerxx]

fine i won't look at the sun, jeeze

Just do it Steve.

Do it.

 

[tonysidaway]

Any reason why aluminum foil is often used for the pinhole?

The main reasons are opacity and ease of piercing. You really need something that will take a neat, clean hole, and not leak any light through anywhere else.

 

[noquarter]

How does the whole "Don't look" thing work? If I go out tomorrow on say a run, or just to go shopping do I get eye damage just glancing at the sun or is it a "Stare at it for too long" kind of deal. I'm going to be paranoid all day if it is the former. I live in NJ so it doesn't even look like we get the full eclipse treatment.

It's still just the sun, so if you are just outside like normal, you'll be fine. Just don't look at it, just like you wouldn't look at the sun on any other day.

 

[Like the hat?]

Thunderstorms for the next three days here in northern Illinois.

 

[PabloBolivar]

It's still just the sun, so if you are just outside like normal, you'll be fine. Just don't look at it, just like you wouldn't look at the sun on any other day.

I look at the sun directly every single day.

 

[F34R]

Totality over my house lol. Nice.

 

[DarthWoo]

Thunderstorms for the next three days here in northern Illinois.

Maybe getting hit by lightning during the totality will give superpowers?

 

[hydragonwarrior]

Can't find any glasses here in Nashville. Been trying for weeks but everyone sells out the moment they get them, and now rumors are starting too where places are being bombarded by people after hearing they had them and they never had them or will have them.

Guess I'm going to just have to do the best I can with naked eyes.

Please don't. You risk permanent damage to your eyes. You can catch it on Nasa's channel instead.

 

[jstripes]

There was a partial eclipse back in '97 and I used a blank CD-R to *very briefly* look at it.

I'm not recommending it, but it didn't kill my eyes looking for like half a second.

 

[Weevilone]

I got a little freaked out reading a piece written by an eye doctor. Reading stories from people who got permanent damage from the last total eclipse way back cemented the freak out.

Started questioning my kids (11 years old) to make sure they will be safe. After hearing how they were approaching it (like kids) and some of the stuff the teachers told them, I'm just going to keep them home so we can watch together.

I'm right on the path, so should be pretty neat.

Edit: I'm worried about people ending up with shitty bootleg glasses from Amazon and getting eye damage.

Maybe getting hit by lightning during the totality will give superpowers?

I have huge oak trees and the squirrels are going crazy right now. I figure there's a decent chance I get beaned by a falling acorn during totality and I wind up with super squirrel powers.

So yesterday, I overheard a woman saying that during the eclipse, the sun is going in front of the moon.

I heard someone explaining that the earth would be moving into position to block the sun.

Do you focus on it for periods of time more than a second or two? That is the danger, to see the eclipse you will be focusing your sight on the sun and trying to make it out, looking at the sun for an extended period of time.

You can do whatever

I'm no doctor, but I have to think the eye reacting to the ordinary sun by closing the pupil has to help out too. That won't happen with the eclipse.

 

[noquarter]

I look at the sun directly every single day.

Do you focus on it for periods of time more than a second or two? That is the danger, to see the eclipse you will be focusing your sight on the sun and trying to make it out, looking at the sun for an extended period of time.

You can do whatever

 

[tonysidaway]

It's still just the sun, so if you are just outside like normal, you'll be fine. Just don't look at it, just like you wouldn't look at the sun on any other day.

One additional point here needs to be stressed. The eclipse is the one time in nature when you will encounter direct sunlight combined with low ambient light levels. Your eyes will adapt as they adapt to twilight, so your pupils will dilate and let more light through to your vulnerable retina. At the same time, looking directly at the sun will be something akin to staring directly at the sun in full daylight but without the protection of your irises.

Your retina cannot warn you if it's being damaged, because there are no specialised pain receptors to signal imminent destruction of part of the surface.

So it's especially important to be cautious about looking directly at the sun during an eclipse. The conditions are exactly the worst possible for eye damage.

 

[DarthWoo]

So if I'm understanding some articles correctly, it should be safe for me to view the eclipse through my phone's front camera, given that the camera has no optical zoom of any kind, and I can probably take a few "selfies" or whatever it is the youngsters do these days?

 

[iceatcs]

Don't get too close any wild animals when totality, Trust me with this one.

 

[sphagnum]

I wonder how many people in ancient times messed up their eyes by staring at eclipses.

 

[DarthWoo]

I wonder how many people in ancient times messed up their eyes by staring at eclipses.

I wonder how many were running around in terror.

 

[PabloBolivar]

Do you focus on it for periods of time more than a second or two? That is the danger, to see the eclipse you will be focusing your sight on the sun and trying to make it out, looking at the sun for an extended period of time.

You can do whatever

I watch almost every sunrise and sunset religiously. It's not as strong I suppose.

 

[tonysidaway]

I watch almost every sunrise and sunset religiously. It's not as strong I suppose.

Yes, you're seeing the sun obliquely through the atmosphere at sunrise and sunset. At all other times you're getting the sun's rays more directly, through a comparatively tiny layer of atmosphere. And that's when the eclipse will happen this time.

 

[Ryaaan14]

I'm good if I just sneak a quick peek right?

Like a quick flick of the eyes nahmean

Oh shit someone literally just asked that lmao nvm

 

[BreezyLimbo]

so another question

can I stare at the eclipse for like a millisecond? with no glasses

like

surely it won't make me blind right?

 

[Smiley90]

I'm good if I just sneak a quick peek right?

Like a quick flick of the eyes nahmean

so another question

can I stare at the eclipse for like a millisecond? with no glasses

like

surely it won't make me blind right?

You will die

 

[Blitzrules240]

Is they're gonna be photography online or is that an asinine assumption?

 

[xxracerxx]

Is they're gonna be photography online or is that an asinine assumption?

How is this even a question? Haha. This is going to be one of the most photographed/filmed events in forever.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

You will die

I've lived a good life.

 

[aceface]

You can look at it during totality though because as that point for 2ish minutes it will be completely blacked out. Apparently being able to see the solar flares and shit is one of the coolest parts.

 

[PabloBolivar]

Is they're gonna be photography online or is that an asinine assumption?

I'm waiting for the printed versions because online pics can hurt your eyes, etc etc etc
People are such babies. Just stare at the goddamn sun for God sake.

 

[Biske]

I'm waiting for the printed versions because online pics can hurt your eyes, etc etc etc
People are such babies. Just stare at the goddamn sun for God sake.

The problem isnt that you'll go blind.

The problem is you'll look at it, and because of the eclipse it will be a lot easier to look at and wont have many of your natural "oh fuck I should stop looking instincts" and you will do lasting damage into you eye, burning blind spots etc into you eye.

Youll still be able to see but will have made your vision worse

Why Does a Solar Eclipse Damage My Eyes?
According to experts, viewing the sun with your naked eye during the eclipse can burn your retina, damaging the images your brain can view. This phenomenon, known as "eclipse blindness," can cause temporary or permanent vision impairment, and in worst-case scenarios can lead to legal blindness, which entails significant loss of vision.

See the Path of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse As It Moves Across the U.S.
"If people look without the proper protection [at the sun], they run the risk of injuring their eyes. And if they get an injury, depending on how often and how long they look at the sun without the protection, they do have a substantial risk of developing a permanent loss of vision," said Dr. B. Ralph Chou, p resident of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and a former optometry professor. It is not possible to go completely blind from looking at the eclipse, Chou said, because the injury is limited to the central part of your visual field.
There are no immediate symptoms or pain associated with the damage — the retina doesn't have any pain receptors — so its hard to know at the time if you've actually been afflicted with eclipse blindness. If you look at the sun unfiltered, you may immediately notice a dazzle effect, or a glare the way you would from any bright object, but that doesn't necessarily mean your retina is damaged. According to Chou, symptoms generally begin occurring 12 hours after viewing the eclipse, when people wake up in the morning and notice their vision has been altered.

"They can't see faces in the mirror, they can't read the newspaper or the smartphone display, they're having trouble looking at road signs, and basically they've got this center spot in their vision that is intensely blurred," Chou said.

There are no remedies to effectively mitigate the injury, said Chou, aside from waiting and seeing if the patient regains vision. This does happen, but not until at least three months after the injury.

http://time.com/4890397/solar-eclipse-damage-eyes-protect/

 

[Xe4]

It's going to be mostly cloudy here in NM tomorrow : (

Hopefully it'll clear up for the eclipse.

We'll see, however.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

These things happen around the world quite often. If you really want to see it but miss this one, just take a vacation to the next place it will occur.

 

[jstripes]

Is they're gonna be photography online or is that an asinine assumption?

I may be at work tomorrow, but I'm going to try my hardest to take a photo like this:

 

[FyreWulff]

I'm waiting for the printed versions because online pics can hurt your eyes, etc etc etc
People are such babies. Just stare at the goddamn sun for God sake.

please don't

even a 99% covered-by-moon-sun is still 4000% brighter than the full moon.

You'll burn your fucking retinas.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

please don't

even a 99% covered-by-moon-sun is still 4000% brighter than the full moon.

You'll burn your fucking retinas.

There are very few cases of permanent blindness reported after a solar eclipse. It is a really, really bad idea to view it unprotected but it is also not quite as easy to destroy your retinas as some are stating.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I'm waiting for the printed versions because online pics can hurt your eyes, etc etc etc
People are such babies. Just stare at the goddamn sun for God sake.

This is a good idea. You do it first and let us know how it goes.

There are very few cases of permanent blindness reported after a solar eclipse. It is a really, really bad idea to view it unprotected but it is also not quite as easy to destroy your retinas as some are stating.

It's like staring at the Sun on a normal day. You wouldn't stand there and look straight at the Sun on a clear day, would you? You would risk permanent blindness in minutes and possibly faster.

 

[Damaniel]

How is this even a question? Haha. This is going to be one of the most photographed/filmed events in forever.

If we're really lucky, someone somewhere will have a 360 degree camera setup on it that they can turn into something viewable in a VR headset.