How To safely watch the Surya Grahan and capture it from your phone

This year's first solar eclipse will fall on 21 June. The astronomy enthusiasts all over the world will be keen to observe such an awesome event.
What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the earth and the sun. This blocks the rays of the sun from reaching the earth. So, when the eclipse occurs, the earth goes dark for that time.

But because the moon is smaller than the sun, so when moon comes in front of it, there is a ring of light. There are very rare eclipses in which the sun is entirely obscured.
As all the sky gazers are very excited to witness the event, one must know that they should never look at the sun directly during a solar eclipse.

The rays of the sun can permanently damage the tissues of the eyes. The UV radiation can also weaken the outer layer of the eye and lead to cataract development.

Many people think that it's okay to watch the solar eclipse with bare eyes because only a little part of the sun is visible. But according to NASA even when the 99 per cent of the sun's surface is covered during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the small visible part can still burn the retina.

Some even think that viewing the solar eclipse through dark lenses or film is safe, which is not true. All this can lead to permanent vision loss and can damage the eyes. There is no pain in the eyes as there are no pain receptors in your eyes. The damage is clear afterwards.

If you are a sky gazer, don't worry, there are safe ways you can observe this solar eclipse.

You must wear your protective eyeglasses, binoculars, use a telescope or a box projector to safely witness the solar eclipse. You can also buy solar filters or eclipse glasses. Make sure to buy these only from a reliable source and they are approved by NASA or ISRO. You can also buy binoculars.

 

Tips to capture it by your phone or camera

- You can use your smartphone or a DSLR camera to capture the images of the eclipse.

- If you are using a DSLR, make sure to shoot through a telephoto lens to get proper shots.

- Use a tripod to support the camera and get clear images.

DIY: Simple Card Projector

The simplest and quickest way to safely project the Sun is with a projector made from only 2 pieces of card or paper.

You Need:

·         2 pieces of stiff white cardboard, e.g. 2 paper plates

·         alternatively, 2 sheets of plain white paper

·         a thumbtack, a sharp pin, or a needle

What to Do:

1.   

To make a quick version of the pinhole projector, take a sheet of paper and make a tiny hole in the middle of it using a pin or a thumbtack. Make sure that the hole is round and smooth.

2.    With your back towards the Sun, hold 1 piece of paper above your shoulder allowing the Sun to shine on the paper.

3.    The 2nd sheet of paper will act as a screen. Hold it at a distance, and you will see an inverted image of the Sun projected on the paper screen through the pinhole.

4.    To make the image of the Sun larger, hold the screen paper further away from the paper with the pinhole.

A box projector works on the same principles, it requires a little more time and a few extra items to construct, but it is more sturdy.

Keep Safe!

·         Never look at the Sun directly without protective eye gear. Even sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from the damage the Sun's rays can do to them.

·         Always keep your back towards the Sun while looking at a pinhole projection.

·         Do not look at the Sun through the pinhole, binoculars or telescope.

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