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Science/nature/environment

Eclipse glasses at the ready..........

(73 Posts)
baubles Thu 19-Mar-15 08:40:51

but the weather forecast isn't looking good. The aurora was a wash out the other evening, I'll be sooo disappointed if the same thing happens tomorrow.

soontobe Fri 20-Mar-15 08:19:20

A reflection in the glass window of my porch. Is that safe enough to look at?

soontobe Fri 20-Mar-15 08:21:54

astronomynow.com/2015/03/18/eclipse-dos-and-donts/

ninathenana Fri 20-Mar-15 08:35:17

phoenix the bucket does work. As I put on my thread the other day, it's how my family viewed the last one smile

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 08:37:47

I have just been filling my black non-stick frying pan with water and placing it strategically in the conservatory - that seems an alternative to the black bucket.

I already have an after-image in my vision just from looking at it while I put it in position, so I am thinking of just watching the TV coverage.

MiniMouse Fri 20-Mar-15 08:40:10

I read online yesterday that the bucket idea is not safe as you still get too many rays!

soontobe Fri 20-Mar-15 08:44:09

I read that too MiniMouse.

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 08:50:16

The image in the frying pan of the whole sun (pre-eclipse) was certainly very bright.

baubles Fri 20-Mar-15 08:53:38

Elegran if DH hadn't taken the car this morning I'd be heading east envy

baubles Fri 20-Mar-15 08:56:22

Yay!! I just saw it briefly smile

GrannyTwice Fri 20-Mar-15 08:57:57

envy - watching TV

ninathenana Fri 20-Mar-15 09:00:29

Surprised at that Minimouse it was a recommend method last time. Just shows how opinions change on such things.

Pittcity Fri 20-Mar-15 09:20:51

No chance of seeing anything here because of cloud, so Brian Cox it is.

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 09:24:52

Well, the frying pan PLUS SUNGLASSES worked for the brief moment the clouds went away. I am still going to ransack the house for something more resistant than sunglasses for the main parts of the show.

MiniMouse Fri 20-Mar-15 09:26:27

Too cloudy here sad No birds flying or singing - not even crows or seagulls - so they know something's happening!

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 09:27:41

About to try frying pan plus TWO pairs of sunglasses (if the clouds allow)

Teetime Fri 20-Mar-15 09:28:10

Its cloudy here but the sun is clearly visible in Melton Mowbray shining right in my study window as we speak - so to speak- must say though the whole thing leaves me unaffected.

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 09:28:26

Baubles You could have used the £19 Scotrail return for over 50s.

Anne58 Fri 20-Mar-15 09:31:37

Wow! Pretty spectacular in North Devon! I though the slight fog/mist would affect it, but it doesn't seem to have.

soontobe Fri 20-Mar-15 09:33:51

All animals exactly the same here.

It hasnt been as dark as I was expecting.

Ariadne Fri 20-Mar-15 09:37:18

That was superb, wasn't it, phoenix?!

Anne58 Fri 20-Mar-15 09:39:57

Very impressive indeed, Ariadne smile

tanith Fri 20-Mar-15 09:40:44

Totally cloudy here in West London what a shame the kids at the school were all ready to watch... oh well back to Stargazing Live...

Agus Fri 20-Mar-15 09:40:59

Just saw it here. Looking forward to asking GDs what they thought of it.

Elegran Fri 20-Mar-15 09:43:56

I can recommend the frying pan plus two pairs of sunglasses.

The clouds have now closed in so I think I may miss the climax

Mishap Fri 20-Mar-15 09:45:09

A bit grey here now - weird yellowy-grey light all around. We have used pinhole and a colander - works fine, but quite a tiny image.

I am fascinated about the necessary precautions as I would have thought that the eye would have automatically closed the pupil or blinked in order to protect the retina - as it does with a camera flash.