One of the biggest cosmic spectacles is going to take place on January 15, 2010. It is the longest solar eclipse of the millennium i.e. between year 2000 and year 3000. Thousands of star gazers are going to gaze at this marvel of the universe from different parts of the world.
This eclipse is special in the sense that it is an annular solar eclipse. The moon while covering the sun will expose the bright ring around its circumference with the possibility of the sun looking like a sparkling diamond ring just as the moon crosses over. In India, the ring will be visible near the southern tip of Kanyakumari and parts of Tamil Nadu and then in the state of Mizoram. In other parts of the country, it will be a partial solar eclipse.
Effects of Watching the Solar Eclipse Directly
It is important not to watch the eclipse with naked eyes nor wearing regular sunglasses. As it is, the sun is too bright to look at and one is tempted to look at it during an eclipse. However, the eyes are not designed to look at the sun directly. Apart from causing temporary loss of vision, it might cause serious damage to the eyes in the long run.
Mild effects can include discomfort while severe effects can result in visual disturbances. In general, the longer one looks at an eclipse with the naked eye, the more severe the effects. The long term effects which are apparent after a few months might include a permanent yellow dot in one’s line of vision. Research has shown that looking at the sun directly during the eclipse does not cause total blindness but it can seriously damage the eye.
The Best Way of Looking at Solar Eclipse
The simplest and safest way of watching the eclipse is with a pinhole projector. All you need is two pieces of cardboard roughly about 12 inches by 12 inches. Using a pin, make a clean hole in the center of one of the cardboards. Do not make the hole too large.
Now allow sunlight to pass through the pinhole on to the second cardboard. You will see an inverted image of the sun. If the eclipse is in progress, you will see a crescent shaped shadow on the cardboard. The image of the eclipse can be enlarged by moving the second cardboard away from the pinhole. This is the safest way to show the eclipse to children and even grownups.
If a clearer view is wanted, one can always follow the progress on any television channel or can download images from an internet site.
What to Do If You Suspect Eye Damage
Despite all the warning, there will be some people who will end up having eye discomfort after watching the eclipse. In this case, stay indoors with your eyes closed for some time. The eyes will readjust themselves within a few hours. However, if the symptoms persist, consult an eye specialist as soon as possible.
Happy Viewing! The next solar eclipse which will last longer than this one is going to happen only on December 23, 3043.
Learn more about the scientific studies and superstitions of solar eclipses.
References
Eye Damage From Viewing Eclipse Less Than Expected. Daily University Science News. 18 Jan 2001. UniSci. 15 Jan 2010
Longest Solar Eclipse of Century. Techtree. 15 Jan 2010.
Yogesh Lokhande - I am a management professional with over 10 years of experience in Information Technology, Marketing, and Education. I live in Ahmedabad, ...
