What Is an Eclipse, and How Can You Observe One Safely?
Recent Mastodon posts discuss Since everyone and their house fly already posted the eclipse, well, here's another one of the exact same sun in the exact same frame. The first photo has some trees in the frame, which was a nice addition for some extr... A social post can point people toward an event, but it does not by itself verify its date, location, or type.
An eclipse occurs when one astronomical body moves into the shadow of another. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. From some locations, the Moon covers part or all of the Sun. A lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to fall across the lunar surface. Lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with unaided eyes, although binoculars or a telescope can make the changing color and shadow easier to see.
Solar eclipses require special care because even a partly covered Sun remains intensely bright. Looking directly at it can injure the retina, sometimes without immediate pain or a clear warning. Use certified solar-viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers that comply with the relevant ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass, photographic film, CDs, and homemade filters are not safe substitutes. Inspect a viewer for scratches, punctures, or other damage before use, and follow its instructions.
Never look through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera optical viewfinder at the Sun unless a proper solar filter is securely attached to the front of the instrument. A filter held over an eyepiece can allow concentrated sunlight to damage the equipment and eyes. For indirect viewing, use a pinhole projector or watch the crescent-shaped light patterns formed by small gaps between leaves. Do not use an unfiltered camera, phone, or telescope as an eye-viewing device; a screen view is not automatically safe for the sensor or observer.
Before observing, check a reputable astronomy organization, observatory, or local event service for the eclipse path and timing. Clouds may affect visibility, and the appearance differs between total, partial, and annular eclipses. During a total solar eclipse, direct viewing is safe only during the brief period of totality, when the bright solar surface is completely covered; viewers must put the solar protection back on before totality ends.