Ring of fire: What not to do during solar eclipse

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Ring of fire, solar eclipse,  annular solar eclipse

Observers should use proper equipment to view the event and visit qualified astronomy centres.

By PTI

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Published: Thu 26 Dec 2019, 5:39 AM

Last updated: Thu 26 Dec 2019, 7:43 AM

When the annular solar eclipse takes place on December 26, sky watchers should use safe viewing equipment and proper techniques to view the celestial event as the infrared and ultraviolet rays of the Sun can cause severe retinal damage, a senior astronomer has said.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the Sun for a viewer on Earth.
An annular solar eclipse takes place when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun's and blocks most of the Sun's light. This causes the Sun to look like a ring (annulus) of fire, Debiprosad Duari, the Director, Research and Academic of MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, MP Birla Planetarium, said.
One should not look at the Sun directly for even a little period without proper protection. Even when 99 per cent of the surface of the Sun is covered by the moon during partial eclipse, the remaining light is still intense enough to damage the eye, Duari told PTI.
Proper solar filters with certified appropriate optical density against radiation which are safe to the eyes should be used in front optical devices and the naked eye, he said.
Aluminised mylar films of approved thickness and transmittivity coated with black polymer are the safest for use in solar goggles that one generally uses for eclipse viewing, he said.
Welders glass number 14 is a safe material as solar filter for direct viewing of the solar disc, the researcher said.
According to him, the best method to view the solar eclipse will be to use a pinhole camera or a telescopic projection on a suitable surface.
Use of unsafe filters like smoked glass, polarizing filter, sun glasses, photographic neutral density filters, colour films are not advised to view the solar phenomenon, he said.
Thursday's eclipse will be visible in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
The beginning of the eclipse can be first seen from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman at around 7:59 hours IST and the annular eclipse will become first visible in west of Bahrain at 09:06 hours IST, Duari added.
UAE timings to view the event
. Duration: 2 hours 21 minutes 32 seconds
. Duration of annularity: 2 minutes 47 seconds
. Sunrise: 7.01.39 am
. Full annular eclipse begins: 7.35.21am
. Maximum: 7.36.43am
. Full annular eclipse ends: 7.38.08am
. Partial ends: 8.52.34am
(Times are shown in local time)

Don't watch with naked eyes

Watching the annular solar eclipse with naked eyes could damage the eyes and even cause blindness
Observers should use proper equipment to view the event and visit qualified astronomy centres
The annular phase will only be visible from Liwa.


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