What type of instrument do you need to look at a solar eclipse?

Question

What type of instrument do you need to look at a solar eclipse?

Answer 1

For the best view a telescope is best, but it must be properly outfitted with a safe filter or other technique.  A typical solar filter goes on the end of the telescope, in front, filtering the light before it gets into the telescope, they look mirror-like.  Often another filter is used at the eyepiece to adjust the color, as the solar filter usually gives a sun looking green or blue, which are not colors people think of when they think of the sun.

Years ago some telescopes would come with a dark glass eyepiece intended for looking at the sun, if you run across something like this, throw it out, they are dangerous, they can heat up and crack.

Other safe ways include eyepiece projection, project the image onto a white board large piece of paper etc., like a slide projector.  There can be some dangers with this technique, and it can "cook" an eyepiece, I did.

Hydrogen-alpha filters are cool, but rather expensive.

Check out some of the products from Coronado, see link

Answer 2

a pinhole camera is a cheap and idiot-proof way to observe the partial phases.

later: you need a number 14 welder's glass to look at the sun safely. this is a shade darker than what is usually used. astronomical solar filters are constructed to control infrared emissions, which are significant when looking at the sun.

you need to do some of your own research on this. think of what you are risking and act accordingly.

Answer 3

A welder's helmet is sufficient. If you don't have access to a welder's helmet, then a pinhole camera will do, or if you have a telescope, you can use it to project the sun's image onto a piece of white paper. DO NOT look at the sun directly through a telescope or binoculars!! YOU WILL severely burn your retina if you do so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_cam...

Answer 4

You can permanently damage your retina if you look directly at the solar eclipse. It is recommended that you observe the eclipse by punching/cutting a pin hole in a piece of paper and holding it so the sun shines through the hole casting an image on the ground, pavement, sheet of white paper, etc. Instead of looking at the eclipse itself, observe the shadowing of the image as it occurs on the paper. What I found more interesting than the eclipse itself was what things around me looked like during the eclipse. Buildings, people, etc. looked spooky. Not like they do in the evening as the sun goes down.

Answer 5

Follow Tina's advice and use a pin-hole camera, *EXCEPT* for totality. The total phase of a solar eclipse is the most awe-inspiring sight...ever.

*UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES* attempt any other part of the eclipse, a partial or annular eclipse with your naked eyes.

HTH

Charles