OBSERVATIONS OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE ON MAY 31ST 2003

by Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

Never look at the Sun without sufficient protection of your eyes. Here you will learn how to safely follow the progress of the eclipse. Remember never to look at the Sun through binoculars. Safe ways of observing the Sun:

• Solar eclipse glasses. These are special glasses enabling you to look directly at the Sun, but preferably for short periods of time only. For most people these will be the best way of following the eclipse. They provide a good experience of nature. You can order solar eclipse glasses here!
• Completely dark tinted glasses or regular sun glasses are not sufficient.
• Projection of the Sun on a screen through binoculars. Do not look directly at the Sun using binoculars, or through the finderscope! Direct the binoculars towards the Sun (without looking through the binoculars or the finderscope) and hold a white sheet of paper behind the binoculars. Adjust the distance so the solar disk has a suitable size. Adjust the focus using the focus-wheel on the binoculars.
• Those having solar eclipse glasses from earlier eclipses can use them, provided they're not damaged (having scratches or similarly).
• Dark welding glasses and exposed film are not recommendable! These can appear very dark, but will often let through sufficient invisible infrared or UV-radiation to damage the eyes. Do not look at the Sun for long periods of time.
• Below leaf covered tree tops you will be able to see a large amount of partially obscured suns.
• Make a hole in a thick sheet of paper and hold another sheet of paper some distance (maybe a meter) away so that the sunlight from the hole falls on the other piece of paper. Never look directly at the Sun - you're looking away from the Sun and at the sheet of paper.