5 ms·

Will a welding mask work?

tinix 7y ago
you need a high shade, at least 14. just get a stack of neutral density filters, and some IR/UV block filters, and use a camera... you'll need magnification anyway.
- newnewpdro 7y ago
  You're reminding me of reports that people had returned very expensive rented telephoto lenses destroyed by sunlight after the last total lunar eclipse.
  - tinix 7y ago
    Those people suck, frankly. I own very expensive lenses, and equipment. I speak from experience. I was a professional photographer many years ago, though it's only a hobby these days. I filmed the crescendo of the 2017 solar eclipse and took photos throughout with a stack of IR/UV/ND filters: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CV9Ju3TkMtJKNL566 https://photos.app.goo.gl/CV9Ju3TkMtJKNL566 I had to remove most of the ND filters during totality because it was simply blocking too much light, so much so that clouds and stars are visible in some photos. I had >99% IR/UV cut and over 26 stops of wide-band light reduction in front of my lens. My equipment is fine, I assure you. Due diligence isn't hard; I looked up the spec sheets for every filter I purchased, and did the actual math, so much so that I had to remove a filter or two during totality to get the exposure that I wanted, because I was overly conservative to protect my equipment. But... yeah... though there were many people who destroyed equipment during the 2017 eclipse, that doesn't mean it can't be done safely and properly.
ranger207 7y ago
That's what I used for the transit of Venus, along with some binoculars. Make sure the glass is dark enough of course.
- chrisshroba 7y ago
  Please note that the welding mask needs to be put between the sun and the binoculars, not between the binoculars and the eyes. Otherwise, so much light from the sun will be focused by the binoculars that the welding mask will not be nearly enough to counteract it, and severe eye damage is pretty much a certainty. Also, note that many astronomers will say that only filters that are rated for solar use should be used, which a welding mask is not. So do this at your own risk.
  - lightedman 7y ago
    Welding masks may not be rated for solar, but given that they block out the insane amount of UVA-UVB generated by welding, and our atmosphere totally kills UVC, you're good to go as long as you aren't relying upon the auto-darkening ones.
sytelus 7y ago
Just look for any local astronomy groups doing public viewing event. Even the medium-size cities have such gatherings.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
dreamcompiler 7y ago
If it's around #15 or greater, but unlike the eclipse you won't be able to see anything interesting with just the welding mask. Mercury is too small. You need magnification, but if you use binoculars and you put the welding mask between the binocs and your eyes you will permanently damage your eyes and the binocs. Make a pinhole in a playing card and put a large piece of white cardboard a meter behind it. This will work well. It will be dim so you might need to arrange a large sheet of poster board around the playing card for shade.
tgsovlerkhgsel 7y ago
https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification says "The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher." (which are rare because they're too dark for most welding) Other sources said 13 was the minimum. You're probably best off with a 13 or 14. I found 13 too bright.

you need a high shade, at least 14. just get a stack of neutral density filters, and some IR/UV block filters, and use a camera... you'll need magnification anyway.

newnewpdro 7y ago
You're reminding me of reports that people had returned very expensive rented telephoto lenses destroyed by sunlight after the last total lunar eclipse.
- tinix 7y ago
  Those people suck, frankly. I own very expensive lenses, and equipment. I speak from experience. I was a professional photographer many years ago, though it's only a hobby these days. I filmed the crescendo of the 2017 solar eclipse and took photos throughout with a stack of IR/UV/ND filters: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CV9Ju3TkMtJKNL566 https://photos.app.goo.gl/CV9Ju3TkMtJKNL566 I had to remove most of the ND filters during totality because it was simply blocking too much light, so much so that clouds and stars are visible in some photos. I had >99% IR/UV cut and over 26 stops of wide-band light reduction in front of my lens. My equipment is fine, I assure you. Due diligence isn't hard; I looked up the spec sheets for every filter I purchased, and did the actual math, so much so that I had to remove a filter or two during totality to get the exposure that I wanted, because I was overly conservative to protect my equipment. But... yeah... though there were many people who destroyed equipment during the 2017 eclipse, that doesn't mean it can't be done safely and properly.

ranger207 7y ago

That's what I used for the transit of Venus, along with some binoculars. Make sure the glass is dark enough of course.

chrisshroba 7y ago
Please note that the welding mask needs to be put between the sun and the binoculars, not between the binoculars and the eyes. Otherwise, so much light from the sun will be focused by the binoculars that the welding mask will not be nearly enough to counteract it, and severe eye damage is pretty much a certainty. Also, note that many astronomers will say that only filters that are rated for solar use should be used, which a welding mask is not. So do this at your own risk.
- lightedman 7y ago
  Welding masks may not be rated for solar, but given that they block out the insane amount of UVA-UVB generated by welding, and our atmosphere totally kills UVC, you're good to go as long as you aren't relying upon the auto-darkening ones.

sytelus 7y ago

Just look for any local astronomy groups doing public viewing event. Even the medium-size cities have such gatherings.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

dreamcompiler 7y ago

If it's around #15 or greater, but unlike the eclipse you won't be able to see anything interesting with just the welding mask. Mercury is too small. You need magnification, but if you use binoculars and you put the welding mask between the binocs and your eyes you will permanently damage your eyes and the binocs. Make a pinhole in a playing card and put a large piece of white cardboard a meter behind it. This will work well. It will be dim so you might need to arrange a large sheet of poster board around the playing card for shade.

tgsovlerkhgsel 7y ago

https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification says "The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher." (which are rare because they're too dark for most welding) Other sources said 13 was the minimum. You're probably best off with a 13 or 14. I found 13 too bright.