Millions of people are preparing to witness the total solar eclipse this afternoon, but experts are advising against attempting to capture the event with regular cameras or viewing devices. NASA emphasizes the importance of using special filters on devices such as cameras, cellphones, telescopes, and binoculars to safely view the sun. Without these filters, there is a risk of eye injury if you attempt to take pictures through the viewfinder of a camera or look directly at the sun through lenses.
NASA particularly cautions against using eclipse glasses as a filter over lenses because the concentrated solar rays can penetrate the filter and cause serious eye damage.
Instead of risking eye injury or damaging your devices, NASA suggests a safer alternative: placing eclipse glasses over a cellphone’s lens to capture the eclipse. Directly pointing a camera or phone lens at the sun without proper filtration can not only harm your eyes but also damage the lens of your device, especially with any form of magnification.
Credits: mlive.com