> > There are two other similar safe sun viewing methods that are not > > applicable for satellite viewing: 1) pinhole camera; 2) eyepiece > projection > > onto a white screen. > > Why are these methods not applicable? For the record, I have used the projection system many times. The only precaution you have to make there is that when you focus the eyepiece, that you are looking from the side, and no where near the axis of the eyepiece. I also support putting a short warning on the SeeSat web pages concerning safe solar viewing. That might seem to be off-topic to some, but it could save someone's eyes. I'd rather have an extra few lines on the web pages, then allow someone to go blind from improper solar exposure. Rembember, you only get one pair of eyes. After that, the only option is to become a cyborg. Also, keep in mind that there is some amplification of light going on. All of the light from the sun is being directed into a focus. Magnification does decrease the intensity of the light, true, but it isn't enough. You can demonstrate this to yourself by pointing your telescope at the sun, focusing the eyepiece through the projection method (don't look into the eyepiece !!!), and take a piece of paper and hold it in front of the eyepiece. Within a few seconds, it should start to smoke, and soon a part of it will turn black and be eventually vaporized. Don't let that happen to your eyes. ------------------------------ Jonathan T. Wojack tlj18@juno.com 39.706d N 75.683d W 4 hours behind UT (-4) ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 22 2002 - 16:18:17 EDT