[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: I've been cheated!

[Shaun Hately]

On 11 Jun 2002 at 11:29, lupinesque wrote:

> Catlady reported:
> 
> > So I looked at the sun with my eyes, and saw the big bite taken out 
> > of it.
> 
> Doesn't sound like a bad outcome after all.  <g>
> 
> I didn't know about it 'til after the fact.  What is the use of 
> reporting an eclipse as news, I ask you?  
> 
> Would I have seen it on the east coast if I'd been out at sunset?

Astronomer hat on.

Simple answer, no. The eclipse began after sundown as far as the east coast of the 
US was concerned. Everybody in the US west of Atlanta could have had some sort 
of view weather permitting, east of that - nope.

As for looking at the sun (-8. The reason it's a bad idea is that even a brief look can 
have a negative impact on your eyesight. People should *never* look directly at the 
sun without specialised lenses - even sunglasses aren't a protection. You almost 
certainly won't go instantly blind, most of the time you will avoid any long term 
effects at all - but it is very risky. And the risk is seriously multiplied if you use 
binoculars or a telescope.



Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately |webpage: http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       |email: drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in
common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter
the facts to fit the views. Which can be uncomfortable if you happen
to be one of the facts that need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who:
The Face of Evil | Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia