Solar eclipses are beyond beautiful. Of all the celestial events, they are among the most beautiful and awe-inspiring. As such, they are always something that you are going to want to go out and see, and it’s a shame when you miss them. You may be wondering can you look at a solar eclipse through a window?
However, anyone who has gotten to see a solar eclipse will know that you do not simply watch this event. No, you need special viewing eclipse glasses or techniques to protect your eyes.
Even so, you might be wondering – is there any other safe way to see the solar eclipse? Can you look at a solar eclipse through a window? Or a camera?
If you want to find out the ins and outs and dos and don’ts of watching a solar eclipse, you’re in the right place. Here, we will cover everything you need to know!
Quick Overview – What Is A Solar Eclipse?
Simply put, a solar eclipse is a celestial event where the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun. There are two kinds of solar eclipses – partial and total. A partial eclipse is when the moon only blocks out part of the sun’s light.
You guessed it – a total eclipse is when the moon totally blocks out the sun when it passes directly in front of the Sun. Due to the Moon’s orbit being elliptical it is also possible to have what is called an annular solar eclipse where only the center of the Sun is covered leaving a ring of light around the Moon.
In any event, it is stunning and always leaves you standing in awe. However, there are things that you should and should not do during a solar eclipse in order to keep your eyes safe.
For example, never view the eclipse without the proper eye protection.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Proper Eye Protection?
If you look at a solar eclipse without the designated viewing eclipse glasses, you can, and are very likely to experience, solar retinopathy. This is also called retinal burns, or “eclipse blindness”.
When this happens, the powerful exposure to the sun’s light damages or destroys the retina cells, located in the back of the eyes. This will then impact the transmission of what your eyes see to the brain.
Never look at the Sun with the naked eye. Even during a solar eclipse when clouds obscure the view. Doing so will almost certainly permanently damage your eyes.
Can You Look At A Solar Eclipse Through A Window?
No. Looking through a window does not mitigate the dangers of watching a solar eclipse – total or partial. Windows do not block out dangerous solar rays. As such, trying to watch an eclipse through a window will damage your eyes if you are not wearing the appropriate viewing eclipse glasses.
If you want to watch an eclipse from a window, you will need to have the viewing eclipse glasses. No amount of sunglasses piled on top of each other will do the same thing, so never try to take shortcuts.
When it comes to your eyes, you need to do everything you can to protect them. It is never worth the risk of watching an eclipse without the proper eyewear, because the damage can be severe and permanent.
Is It Safe To Drive During An Eclipse?
Yes, it is safe to drive during an eclipse as long as you are not looking at the eclipse. If you are driving normally and remain on the road, you can continue driving, but be very cautious. Keep your eyes on other drivers on the road to ensure you do not get in an accident.
You should not, under any circumstance, slam on the brakes if an eclipse occurs while you are driving. If you want to view the eclipse while in the car, make sure that you first pull over in a safe space, then get your eclipse viewing glasses out.
Never get your eclipse viewing glasses out and put them on while you are driving, as this is very dangerous. Park your car, get your eclipse viewing glasses, and then look at the eclipse – remember that order!
What Protective Eyewear Should You Use?
If you plan on viewing an eclipse, you need to ensure you have the designated protective eyewear. You need to use the viewing eclipse glasses for any eclipse to avoid damaging your eyes.
That said, these glasses are only to be used for direct viewing. This means that you should not try to wear them while looking through binoculars, telescopes, or anything else. Doing this will result in damage being done to your eyes.
These Are NOT Safe to Use During an Eclipse
When it comes to regular sunglasses, it is essential to note that it does not matter how dark they are or how many you are piling on top of one another, they are not safe.
We should also mention that even looking through your phone or a regular camera to watch the eclipse is unsafe.
Using these devices during an eclipse can cause permanent damage to the device if you are not using the correct lenses. So, be very careful unless you want to pay out some big bucks. While there are steps you can take to prevent your camera from burning out, in many cases, it is better not to take the risk.
Even if you are wearing the correct eclipse eyewear, the following are not safe to use to look at an eclipse during the event:
Cameras
Cell phone cameras
Binoculars
Telescopes
Regular sunglasses
Other Methods of Viewing Eclipses
There are techniques to observe a solar eclipse without viewing it directly.
One way is to use a so-called pin-hole camera. Punch a pin-hole in a piece of paper or thin cardboard, then project the image on a second piece of paper. You may need to adjust the distance between the two to obtain the best image.
Alternatively, that can place a colander (or strainer) on your shoulder with the sun at your back. Position it correctly, and you should see multiple images of the Moon blocking the Sun.
Final Thoughts
While solar eclipses are some of the most beautiful celestial events you can experience, they are not without their risks. If you plan on viewing a solar eclipse, you need to ensure you have all the correct equipment. Namely, the right viewing eclipse glasses.
These will block the harmful solar rays and allow you to see the event safely. Without them, you can experience solar retinopathy or retinal burns. This can cause blindness and at the very least, impair your vision. This condition does not always get better on its own, and you may have long-lasting vision problems.
You can also use indirect methods to view the event
So, if you want to see an eclipse, get the right techniques, and do not take chances.
Hi, my name is Jason Anderson, and I am a Physics Professor. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated with space, the universe, the moon, you name it. I spent hours and hours at the planetarium close to my hometown, wondering what else could be out in the universe.
Since then, I’ve been an avid stargazer and astronomer, and love nothing more than spending my time charting stars, observing planets, and finding constellations.
This is why I decided to start Telescope Guru. I only wish to share this fun pastime with the world. With this site, I hope to answer all of your questions relating to astronomy, telescopes, and stargazing.
