Rare Venus event puts it between Earth, sun

Enquirer ^ | 4/18/04 | Dean Regas

[LibWhacker]

lol

[LibWhacker]

Must be number 14 welder's glass in perfect condition then or you would've probably already noticed some problems with your vision. Another article I read a long time ago said that even if you're pretty sure your solar filter is good, the best policy is probably not to stare at the sun through it for long periods of time, because you can never be 100% certain there isn't some minor flaw in the lens that'll cost you your eyesight. I've used filters in the past myself, but prefer looking at a projection through a pinhole camera!

[pageonetoo]

Not possible. If the sun was fully covered you would have no damage.

What you say is not possible, is indeed, fact! The sun was not covered 100%. The disc of the moon allowed a ring of light...

This is not rocket science. It is placement of an orb (the moon) in front of a slightly larger orb (the sun)... which still allows light from the larger, blocked orb to do its damage.

Thanks for your input. You would be correct in your statements, but for that factor... Obviously, I am not a rocket scientist!

[Kirkwood]

Hmmm... but you said "full coverage" and that was not true. It wasn't full coverage, but it was during maximum partial coverage. Got to get your facts straight!

Of course anyone will fry their retina looking at a partial eclipse unprotected. Sadly, you paid the price. By the way, I am a former astronomer and now an ophthalmologist. Every eclipse this happens because someone thinks it won't happen to them.

[Kirkwood]

"Must be number 14 welder's glass in perfect condition then or you would've probably already noticed some problems with your vision. "

I always hesitate to mention welder's glass because filters can be replaced with other densities and types of filters in most helmets. Unless you know what filter is present, you might be in for a nasty surprise. Don't assume you know what you have unless you verify it.

By the way, just because a filter is comfortable to look through, doesn't mean it is safe. It could be letting through nonvisible radiation that will show up as ocular damage after the event. In addition, dark filters in helmets cause your pupils to dilate, and this allows more radiation into the eye.

[Marie Antoinette]

We use the pin-hole viewers as well. My kids are looking forward to this, they LOVE astronomy and star-gazing!

[BossLady]

Is Venus in Virgo then? That should be interesting since the Sun will be in Gemini....double Mercury! :o

[snopercod]

bump

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the bump. :-)