Solar eclipse is a celestial event that arouses interest in many people who sometimes dare to catch a glimpse of the Sun with naked eyes. It is extremely dangerous to view the Sun without any protection over the eyes.
A partial solar eclipse is expected on October 25. In this the Sun, the Moon and the Earth will line up, but not in a straight line. As a result of which the Moon will partially eclipse the Sun.
As per NASA, a total solar eclipse is expected to be seen on April 8, 2024.
The science behind this spectacular event
These can be said as the magic of nature when the three main celestial bodies which support life align together. The Moon comes in between the Sun and the Earth and blocks the sunlight.
During the solar eclipse the corona of the partially eclipsed sun is visible to some parts of the earth. The upcoming solar eclipse will be visible from Europe, the Urals and Western Siberia, Central Asia, Western Asia, South Asia and from the north-east of Africa.
How to watch solar eclipse safely
If you are keen to watch the solar eclipse on your own then wear protective glasses. The sunlight of the partially blocked sun is too powerful and can damage the retina of the eyes.
The damage caused by the sunlight will not be painful and within a matter of few seconds one can completely lose the vision without even being aware of it.
"Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury," NASA warns.
"When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. You can also use an indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector," the space agency suggests.
How Surya Grahan can impact your health
Solar eclipse, or Surya Grahan as it is said in Hindi, does not have any other effect on the human body other than the eyes.
Tales around food poisoning, indigestion, miscarriage, abortion, and genetic mutations which are widely spread in the community during solar eclipse do not have any scientific evidence.
These claims have been passed down from generations and people have followed it blindly.
In many households people abstain from consuming food during solar eclipse. While many see the scientific reason behind it saying that since sunlight is the ultimate source of energy, its blockage can slow down important functions inside the body like digestion; many others see it as a sacrifice to protect the Sun god who is being eaten up by a demon during the solar eclipse.
Pregnant women are advised not to go outside during solar eclipse. It is believed that the sunlight can cause genetic mutation in the foetus and the baby can be born with developmental issues. However, there is no evidence supporting this. But of course the pregnant mother should be careful of the harmful sun rays and protect her eyes if going outside during the eclipse is unavoidable.
It is extremely important to take care of kids. The spectacular event can tempt anyone to look up directly. Kids, especially, are the curious ones. They can easily be challenged by their friends or challenge someone to do a forbidden task. " Children's eyes in particular are extremely delicate and transmit more light through to the retina. This makes children’s eyes more susceptible to damage from intense light," warns NASA.
"The retina has no sensitivity to pain, and since the effects of retinal damage may not appear for hours, there is no warning that an injury to your eye has occurred. The amount of time looking at the sun that will cause loss of sight varies from eye to eye but in all cases is only a matter of seconds," NASA explains.
Overall, the solar eclipse is harmful to the eyes. It has no effect on the other aspects of human health. So watch this amazing celestial event with proper precaution.
Few common questions related to solar eclipse have been answered here:
When is the solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse will occur on October 25.Is it a full or partial solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse that will occur on October 25 will be a partial solar eclipse which means the Sun, the Moon and the Earth will not be aligned in a straight line.Is it safe to watch a solar eclipse?
No, it is not safe to watch a solar eclipse in naked eyes. However, you can watch it using protective glasses or films.Why is a solar eclipse harmful to the eyes?
The sunrays emitted during the eclipse can cause irreversible damage to the retina of the eyes and can start a painless loss of vision.Should I fast during a solar eclipse?
While there is no scientific explanation behind observing fast during solar eclipse, if you wish to do it for religious purposes make sure you are fit enough to do it.
