Taking Selfies During Solar Eclipse can be Harmful

You should never watch an eclipse without proper protection, earn experts, who say that sun's radiation can burn the retina, even causing permanent blindness.

Eye specialists warn, about the risk of taking selfies during the Eclipse, that will sweep Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. Even if the Sun is in eclipse, its radiation can still burn the retina, with the risk of permanent damage or even blindness for those who watch it without proper protection.

"Taking a selfie could potentially put you at risk, as you may end up accidentally looking directly at the Sun while aligning yourself and your phone," said Daniel Hardiman-McCartney of Britain’s College of Optometrists.

AMD Detector Technology from the UK Astronomy Technology Centre
Space technology used to discover distant galaxies has been adapted to detect AMD, which is the most common form of vision loss in adults.

A French association of ophthalmologists and opticians warned eclipse-watchers against using cameras or binoculars to look directly at the Sun. Nor should they use makeshift filters such as sunglasses or colour bottles, the group, AsnaV, said.

"Looking at a solar eclipse with the naked eye is as dangerous as watching the Sun directly and without protection," AsnaV said.

The French education ministry, which has come under fire for failing to distribute special eclipse glasses to schools, has advised teachers to keep pupils indoors while the event unfolds. Using a pinhole camera to project the eclipse onto a sheet of paper is a safe way to watch the eclipse, and webcam-coverage is of course safer still, said experts.

The Science of Solar Eclipse
An annular eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor, which traverses the Iberian Peninsula and stretches across the African continent.

"The safest way to view the eclipse is indirectly," said Hardiman-McCartney.

The eclipse will run from 0741 GMT, from a point in the Atlantic, to 1150 GMT, when it will end in east Asia, according to Britain’s Nautical Almanac Office. A total eclipse, running from 0913 GMT to 1018 GMT, will be seen along a narrow 5,800-kilometre (3,600-mile) curve in the north Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean, ending at the North Pole.

Science, Superstitions and Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipse is traditionally linked to myths and superstitions. However the trends are slowly shifting, thanks to the scientific community.

But it will make landfall in just two places — Denmark’s Faroe Islands and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

Other locations — Iceland, Greenland, Europe, North Africa, western and eastern Asia — will have partial eclipses, ranging from 99% in Iceland to just a couple of percent or less in Iran.

Excessive Screen Time Could Affect Eyesight
Increased screen time can result in dry eyes and other eye problems. Regulation of total screen time in children is a necessity, while self regulation is important in adults.

Eclipse safety and webcams:

- http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety.html

- http://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html

Source-Medindia