Solar questions: eyeglass/binoculars, location
Aug 2, 2017 20:29:46 #
What's the difference between wearing solar glasses and looking through a regular binoculars vs. looking through solar binoculars at the sun?
And, if you just traveled to within the 70 mile wide path of the eclipse what would be the place to look for to plunk down and observe/photograph?
And, if you just traveled to within the 70 mile wide path of the eclipse what would be the place to look for to plunk down and observe/photograph?
Aug 2, 2017 20:43:10 #
Solar glasses are like a 40x ND filter designed specifically to filter out the solar radiation that will damage your eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_nnEDwv19k&t=2s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_nnEDwv19k&t=2s
Aug 2, 2017 20:43:41 #
Light, coming to a focus point behind binoculars concentrate the energy sufficiently to melt the plastic of solar glasses, and long before you realize that the solar filtering properties of the glasses have been compromised, the retinas of your eyes may be permanently scarred!
As far as where to see the eclipse from:
A field of cows - no Bull!
The lawn of a church or school
A park where trees will not interfere
An intersection of US highways - although there may be some safety concerns here as well.
A shopping center parking lot (see above)
In a bar with good looking waitresses, cheap beer and a TV set (so you can see the eclipse if you care to)
As far as where to see the eclipse from:
A field of cows - no Bull!
The lawn of a church or school
A park where trees will not interfere
An intersection of US highways - although there may be some safety concerns here as well.
A shopping center parking lot (see above)
In a bar with good looking waitresses, cheap beer and a TV set (so you can see the eclipse if you care to)
Aug 3, 2017 08:31:16 #
Please take a fools advise and never look directly at the sun for any length of time. especially with binoculars, with sun filters or not.
When I was in my teens, I watched a solar eclipse with military binoculars and with sun filters. I thought that with military grade binoculars, I would be safe. NOT SO
That was some 50 some years ago. Now when I look through a rifle scope, right where the cross hairs join, I have a curve in my right eye, the same shape of the curve in the eclipse. It makes it very difficult to shoot a rifle.
Bob K.
When I was in my teens, I watched a solar eclipse with military binoculars and with sun filters. I thought that with military grade binoculars, I would be safe. NOT SO
That was some 50 some years ago. Now when I look through a rifle scope, right where the cross hairs join, I have a curve in my right eye, the same shape of the curve in the eclipse. It makes it very difficult to shoot a rifle.
Bob K.
Aug 3, 2017 10:12:40 #
I already have a huge floater in one of my eyes. So, even with the correct glasses, don't use a binoculars too?
Bob K. wrote:
Please take a fools advise and never look directly... (show quote)
Aug 3, 2017 11:45:42 #
Solar glasses viewing through standard binoculars NO NO. You are increasing the light from the sun which contains harmful radiation and may be beyond the filters capability! Solar filters on front end of binoculars Yes because the harmful stuff has been removed by the filters. Same when photographing with camera or using a telescope!
Aug 3, 2017 16:29:19 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Fotoartist wrote:
What's the difference between wearing solar glasses and looking through a regular binoculars vs. looking through solar binoculars at the sun?
And, if you just traveled to within the 70 mile wide path of the eclipse what would be the place to look for to plunk down and observe/photograph?
And, if you just traveled to within the 70 mile wide path of the eclipse what would be the place to look for to plunk down and observe/photograph?
If you put the solar glasses behind the binoculars rather than in front of the binoculars YOU WILL BE BLIND. The sunlight will be concentrated by the binoculars and burn a hole through the thin polymer solar film in probably less than a second. The next thing it will hit will be your eyes and you will be blind. There is no way that you could stop the light fast enough to prevent damage. I know this to be fact because this is how I nearly blinded myself. The only reason I didn't blind myself was the film I was using was thicker and two layers. It had already burned through the first layer of film and had started through the second. Test any setup before using it with your eyes. There are plenty of articles on how to view it safely. Follow those instruction to the letter or possibly be blind for the rest of you life.
Aug 3, 2017 16:33:13 #
I suspected it was a good question. Haven't heard it asked before. Many thanks to all!
Aug 3, 2017 18:30:14 #
Fotoartist wrote:
I already have a huge floater in one of my eyes. So, even with the correct glasses, don't use a binoculars too?
In a word...no...keep in mind that lens and binoculars are basically magnifying glasses...kind of like the things you can light a match with when aligned with the sun.
The solar filter should be at the end of the optical tool.
You can buy a sheet of baader film for about 14 bucks....cut the film and wrap it around the lenses on the binocs with a rubber band...works great.
Aug 3, 2017 21:34:48 #
I may be wrong, but I can't see the difference whether the filters were on the back of the binoculars or the front.
Just one man's opinion. As for me, I won't be watching.
Just one man's opinion. As for me, I won't be watching.
Aug 4, 2017 01:28:27 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
Bob K. wrote:
I may be wrong, but I can't see the difference whether the filters were on the back of the binoculars or the front.
Just one man's opinion. As for me, I won't be watching.
Just one man's opinion. As for me, I won't be watching.
Read my previous post. The filter has to be in front to prevent the melting of the solar film polymer. Once the film is gone, your eyes are next. You will be a blind photographer.
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