You need not wait till dusk to go stargazing.
Every day the sun — our yellow dwarf star– rises within the east and units within the west, however have you ever ever checked out it up shut? About 93 million miles from Earth (opens in new tab), the sun is a 4.5 billion-year-old ball of hydrogen and helium (opens in new tab) that calls for a better look.
From sunspots on its ever-changing floor to unbelievable phenomena seen solely throughout a total solar eclipse, the sun is a skywatching goal like no different, but solar observing calls for nice care.
Associated: Night sky guide (what you can see and when)
Jamie Carter
Why it is necessary to look at the sun safely
Besides in the course of the temporary total phase of a total solar eclipse when the moon obscures the sun, by no means take a look at the sun with out correct eye safety. It is never safe to look directly at the sun’s rays (opens in new tab) even when the sun is partly obscured as a result of they comprise dangerous ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays that may injury your eye’s retina and even trigger blindness.
Never use regular sunglasses to observe the sun (opens in new tab). The only safe way (opens in new tab) to look straight on the sun is thru particularly designed solar filters, utilizing solar eclipse glasses (opens in new tab) for direct viewing and solar filters for telescopes and binoculars (opens in new tab).
Tips on how to observe the sun with eclipse glasses
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According to (opens in new tab) the American Astronomical Society (AAS) here is methods to use solar eclipse glasses:
- Examine your solar filter earlier than use. In the event that they’re scratched, discard them.
- At all times supervise kids utilizing solar filters.
- Should you put on glasses then put solar eclipse glasses over them.
- Cowl your eyes along with your eclipse glasses earlier than wanting on the sun and look away from the sun earlier than eradicating them.
The most typical mistake individuals make when utilizing solar eclipse glasses is to put on them like glasses. Regardless of their design, the skinny cardboard arms on eclipse glasses make them susceptible to falling off. That may be harmful in the event you’re wanting on the sun on the time. So one of the simplest ways is to put on them like glasses however whereas doing so hold the temples pressed towards the facet of your head utilizing each arms.
Nonetheless, it’s best to by no means observe the sun via a telescope or binoculars whereas carrying eclipse glasses. Optical tools magnifies the sun’s dangerous rays until there is a solar filter in the best way on the sun-facing finish of the instrument.
Tips on how to observe the sun with a telescope
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If you would like a close-up of the sun one of the simplest ways is to make use of a telescope. Nonetheless, never look through a telescope without a solar filter on the large end (opens in new tab) (the target lens). A method is to purchase a white light solar filter (opens in new tab), which blocks 99.999% of daylight — together with harmful UV and IR gentle — and is designed to view sunspots as darkish areas of the floor of the sun in addition to the solar photosphere. The view is usually both bluish-white or yellow, relying on the supplies used.
One other means is Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) filters (opens in new tab), which as an alternative of sunspots present prominences and different particulars on the sun’s floor. Hα filters do this by solely permitting via gentle from hydrogen atoms. Each white gentle and Hα solar filters for telescopes are available all sizes and styles to suit every kind of telescopes. It is even doable to purchase Hα telescopes with built-in filters for 100% solar viewing.
Should you’re on the lookout for a telescope to view the sun our best telescopes information can assist level you in the precise route. We even have a information to the best budget telescopes under $500 for these eager to put money into new tools with out breaking the financial institution.
Tips on how to observe the sun with binoculars
There are two methods of observing the sun when utilizing binoculars. As with a telescope it’s essential to put solar filters on the target lenses on the entrance of binoculars (and by no means the eyepieces). The most typical means to do that is to buy solar filter movie from reputable brands (opens in new tab). The opposite means of observing the sun with binoculars is to purchase some particular sunoculars, which have solar filters built-in. You get a magnified view of the whole solar disk, although for the reason that solar filters are built-in they’re protected, however lack versatility. Properly-known fashions embody Lunt SUNoculars (opens in new tab) and Celestron EclipSmart (opens in new tab).
Our best binoculars guide will provide help to scope out the most effective astronomy binoculars accessible for stargazing and what you have to be on the lookout for when selecting the best pair for you.
Tips on how to purchase protected solar eclipse glasses and solar filters
These manufacturers sell reliable solar eclipse glasses and solar filters (opens in new tab) that adjust to the transmission necessities of the ISO 12312-2 worldwide customary. Some additionally promote solar movie for DIY initiatives, resembling making custom-fit solar filters for telescopes and binoculars.
Different methods to look at the sun
Earlier than solar eclipse glasses and solar filters have been widespread, the most secure strategy to observe the sun — significantly throughout an eclipse — was not directly by utilizing a pinhole camera which you can make simply at house.
For a bigger projection, you should use a pair of (low cost, expendable) binoculars and a tripod to make a sun projector (opens in new tab).
One other fully protected strategy to observe a partial solar eclipse safely is to take a look at the bottom beneath timber. {A partially} eclipsed sun’s gentle filtered via the leaves of a tree or different foliage initiatives tiny crescent suns onto the bottom. For the same impact, you possibly can maintain a kitchen colander or slotted spoon. Something with small, well-defined holes will mission crescent suns.
Nonetheless, the most secure strategy to observe the sun is on-line, with the Virtual Telescope Network (opens in new tab) and timeanddate.com (opens in new tab) steadily livestreaming solar eclipses. It’s also possible to observe (virtually) real-time images of the sun (opens in new tab) from NASA’s orbiting Solar Dynamic Observatory (opens in new tab).
What to search for when observing the sun
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Sunspots
The most typical cause for learning the sun is to search for sunspots. Greatest seen via white gentle solar filters, sunspots are darkened patches on the sun caused by its magnetic field (opens in new tab). Counting them is how astronomers monitor the sun’s exercise, which waxes and wanes throughout the solar cycle, which lasts roughly 11 years. They’ll seem rapidly and evolve over a couple of hours or many days. Sunspots could be seen at any time of day and are additionally price on the lookout for throughout a partial solar eclipse.
Photosphere, chromosphere and solar prominences
The bottom layer of the sun’s ambiance, the photosphere is the innermost that may be noticed exterior of a total solar eclipse. Greatest seen via Hα solar filters as a purple halo, it is the place many of the sun’s vitality is emitted, together with solar flares.
Additionally seen via Hα solar filters is the chromosphere, the area of the sun’s ambiance between the photosphere and corona. It is from right here that you could be see spot solar prominences (additionally known as filaments), plasma and magnetic subject construction that’s seen as purple arcs.
Transits of planets and satellites
The inner planets Venus and Mercury often cross the sun as seen from Earth. When that occurs it is doable to look at a black dot showing to cross the sun’s disk. A great view calls for a telescope carrying a solar filter, although it is a uncommon occasion to witness. Transits of Venus happen twice seven years aside, however with a spot of 105 years till the subsequent pair. They may happen in December 2117 and 2125. Transits of Mercury (opens in new tab) are extra widespread with the next one on November 12/13, 2032 (opens in new tab) then November 7, 2039. (opens in new tab) The newest transit of Mercury was on November 11, 2019.
Your finest probability of catching a transit is definitely by watching the International Space Station (ISS) cross its disk. It may be calculated prematurely utilizing the ISS Transit Finder (opens in new tab), however because it lasts lower than a second you do must have a digital camera utilizing solar filters ideally mounted on a star-tracker.
Associated: How to see and track the International Space Station (ISS)
What to search for when observing the sun throughout a total solar eclipse
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The golden rule for all solar observing is to by no means take a look at the sun with out correct eye safety besides in the course of the total phase of a total solar eclipse. Although care is required, throughout these uncommon and spectacular occasions is the one time you possibly can see — with the bare eye — these phenomena. Nonetheless, do keep in mind that they’re solely seen in the course of the temporary minutes of totality, and in no way seen throughout partial or annular solar eclipses, for which it’s essential to put on solar eclipse glasses and use solar filters on optical tools.
Associated: Solar eclipses: When, where & how to see them
Photo voltaic corona
The bare eye goal everyone seems to be ready for throughout a total solar eclipse is the solar corona, the sun’s hotter, outer ambiance. Solely seen in the course of the temporary minutes of totality throughout a total solar eclipse, it is an unbelievable sight, showing as a tenuous wispy, spiky, flower-like halo of white diffuse gentle across the moon. Extremely, the corona is much hotter than the surface of the sun (opens in new tab).
Baily’s beads and the ‘diamond ring’
As the primary beads of daylight glisten via the valleys of the moon, totality ceases. They coalesce into a wonderful ‘diamond ring’ as a burst of sunshine seems. It is time to look away from the eclipsed sun and put your solar eclipse glasses again on. A couple of minutes earlier, earlier than totality, a ‘diamond ring’ reduces all the way down to Baily’s beads, although since that occurs for the time being a partial solar eclipse (which requires solar eclipse glasses) ends it is simple to overlook.
Chromosphere and solar prominences
Seen in the course of the first and previous few moments of totality on reverse sides of the moon, the chromosphere seems a deep pink to the bare eye. It is price learning via binoculars (with solar filters briefly eliminated throughout totality), not least as a result of you might nicely spot solar prominences (additionally known as filaments) seen to the bare eye as deep pinky-red arcs.
Extra assets
Need to look additional forward? You’ll find a concise abstract of solar eclipses via 2030 on NASA’s eclipse website (opens in new tab) or discover the subsequent eclipse for any location on Timeanddate.com (opens in new tab). Learn extra about safely observing the sun and monitoring its sunspots and flares on Sky & Telescope (opens in new tab).
Bibliography
The Final Information to Observing the Solar. Celestron. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://www.celestron.com/blogs/knowledgebase/the-ultimate-guide-to-observing-the-sun (opens in new tab)
Tips on how to View a Photo voltaic Eclipse Safely. American Astronomical Society. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety (opens in new tab)
What to search for & when throughout a total solar eclipse. Sky & Telescope. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://skyandtelescope.org/2017-total-solar-eclipse/what-to-look-for-when-total-solar-eclipse/ (opens in new tab)
Respected Distributors of Photo voltaic Filters & Viewers. American Astronomical Society. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters (opens in new tab)
Tips on how to View the 2017 Photo voltaic Eclipse Safely. NASA. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety (opens in new tab)
