Book 8, Question 53
Why Must You Never Stare at the Sun?
Never stare at the Sun, because sunlight can permanently damage your eyes! It's so bright and strong that it can hurt the delicate parts at the back of your eye. Even a quick look can do harm.
More fun facts
- Even from about 93 million miles away, the Sun is bright enough to permanently damage your eyes.
- Staring at the Sun can hurt your eyes in less than a minute.
- The Sun's ultraviolet light can also cause eye problems such as cataracts.
- Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter. They focus the rays even more than your eyes do.
- The only safe time to look without protection is the brief total part of a total solar eclipse.
- As soon as any bright sliver of the Sun comes back after totality, put your eclipse glasses on again.
Sources: National Geographic, Scientific American, NASA Science, NASA
Questions kids ask
Are regular sunglasses safe for looking at the Sun?
No. You need special solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer.