Can I watch the lunar eclipse on my iPhone screen using the camera without burning my eyes out?

[boltjames]

So we want to watch the lunar eclipse but the ISO glasses we wanted to buy online are either sold out, or way overpriced, or we can't trust because we are concerned about counterfeits as Amazon has warned.

Does anyone know if it is safe to hold up the iPhone with the camera on and watch the eclipse on the iPhone screen? Seems to me the phone would be big enough to block the sun from reaching our eyes and give us a nice look on the screen while recording it too. Thoughts?

 

[bslow1]

I bought some solar eclipse glasses at my local 7-Eleven today. $3 for two pairs. Give them a try.

As for the iphone idea, my guess is that the camera will adjust the exposure to make looking at the eclipse through the camera safe. But who wants to look at it through a camera?? That would suck...

 

[Givmeabrek]

The phone will protect your eyes but you need to protect the phone. Otherwise you will just see a large bright spot and the camera may be damaged. Find a filter that will protect the camera.

Maybe use the 3$ glasses above to protect the camera. Your eyes will be safe that way.

 

[styymy]

So we want to watch the lunar eclipse but the ISO glasses we wanted to buy online are either sold out, or way overpriced, or we can't trust because we are concerned about counterfeits as Amazon has warned.

Does anyone know if it is safe to hold up the iPhone with the camera on and watch the eclipse on the iPhone screen? Seems to me the phone would be big enough to block the sun from reaching our eyes and give us a nice look on the screen while recording it too. Thoughts?

Here's a list of retail establishments (hopefully) in your area that you can pickup glasses to watch the eclipse. Also some public libraries have the glasses for free as well so you might want to check local library branches too.

• 7-Eleven
• Bi-Mart
• Casey's General Store
• Circle K
• Hobby Town
• Kirklands
• Kroger
• Love's Travel Stops
• Lowe's
• Menards
• Pilot/Flying J
• Toys "R" Us
• Walmart

 

[Newtons Apple]

You will burn up the cameras sensor if pointed at the sun.

 

[santela]

You might damage the camera sensor though

 

[Kyotoma]

So we want to watch the lunar eclipse but the ISO glasses we wanted to buy online are either sold out, or way overpriced, or we can't trust because we are concerned about counterfeits as Amazon has warned.

Does anyone know if it is safe to hold up the iPhone with the camera on and watch the eclipse on the iPhone screen? Seems to me the phone would be big enough to block the sun from reaching our eyes and give us a nice look on the screen while recording it too. Thoughts?

One: stay in school, kids:

Two: NO. It is NOT safe to point the iPhone camera at the sun.

Three:

Here's a list of retail establishments (hopefully) in your area that you can pickup glasses to watch the eclipse. Also some public libraries have the glasses for free as well so you might want to check local library branches too.

• 7-Eleven
• Bi-Mart
• Casey's General Store
• Circle K
• Hobby Town
• Kirklands
• Kroger
• Love's Travel Stops
• Lowe's
• Menards
• Pilot/Flying J
• Toys "R" Us
• Walmart

These are great, but as a rule, remember: the lens(es) should be dark enough that you can ONLY see the sun through them. If you can see anything else through the lens(es), they are NOT dark enough and your eyesight could potentially be damaged!!

 

[Jimmy James]

No, because the retina screen is capable of reproducing the full power of the sun.

 

[noobinator]

Also make sure you don't take a picture of it, print it out then view the picture later. This could make you blind.

 

[cbreze]

Dang, I bought the lunar eclipse glasses.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Find a live stream of it on YouTube!

 

[masotime]

These are great, but as a rule, remember: the lens(es) should be dark enough that you can ONLY see the sun through them. If you can see anything else through the lens(es), they are NOT dark enough and your eyesight could potentially be damaged!!

Yup, I got some glasses from B&H Photo Video. They were practically pieces of black paper as lenses, until I looked at the sun in the afternoon. That was the only way to tell it was possible to see anything at all through those glasses, everything else was practically invisible.

 

[geoff5093]

Dang, I bought the lunar eclipse glasses.

There's no such thing

 

[Gav2k]

Buy a cheap welding mask or if you can just get the glass then buy that. It’s cheap and it works great!

 

[psac]

Buy a cheap welding mask or if you can just get the glass then buy that. It’s cheap and it works great!

Makes for a great fashion statement, too.

 

[Gav2k]

Makes for a great fashion statement, too.

You get one set of eyes

 

[Newtons Apple]

Hope people do not forget to remove these glasses before they drive!

 

[jdechko]

Three:
These are great, but as a rule, remember: the lens(es) should be dark enough that you can ONLY see the sun through them. If you can see anything else through the lens(es), they are NOT dark enough and your eyesight could potentially be damaged!!

Also, make sure they are ISO Certified 12312-02. Might be too late to find some decent glasses at a good price. But I'd be wary of the glasses without checking them out first.

Several sellers on Amazon were selling fakes or ones that didn't meet the spec. Amazon has warned its customers and given them refunds, FYI.

 

[willmtaylor]

There's no such thing

Yeah, that’s what made it a joke.

Good grief.

 

[boltjames]

I appreciate all the advice, but it's not that simple. The glasses are now being price gouged everywhere, what once cost $2 per pair now costs $25 or more because of Amazon's panic. And those that are cheaper online, well, I'm concerned that they might be counterfeit because of Amazon's panic.

So....if we want to use our iPhone's as a shield from the sun while peeking only at the screen, the screen should be showing us the eclipse indirectly and it should not harm us, right?

 

[noobinator]

It won't harm you but it will fry your phone's camera sensor most likely.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I appreciate all the advice, but it's not that simple. The glasses are now being price gouged everywhere, what once cost $2 per pair now costs $25 or more because of Amazon's panic. And those that are cheaper online, well, I'm concerned that they might be counterfeit because of Amazon's panic.

So....if we want to use our iPhone's as a shield from the sun while peeking only at the screen, the screen should be showing us the eclipse indirectly and it should not harm us, right?

So to save $25 you are willing to fry your phone sensor? Are you reading anything above? Multiple people have told you.

 

[posguy99]

Buy a cheap welding mask or if you can just get the glass then buy that. It’s cheap and it works great!

A welding mask is NOT sufficient. But hey, they're your eyes.

Make a bloody pinhole camera, already.

 

[v0lume4]

I'd be worried about you still getting UV rays in your eyes, even while holding your phone between your face and the sun. Despite having your phone in front of your eyes, you'd still be looking almost directly at the sun. I wouldn't recommend doing that.

 

[Givmeabrek]

I'd be worried about you still getting UV rays in your eyes, even while holding your phone between your face and the sun. Despite having your phone in front of your eyes, you'd still be looking almost directly at the sun. I wouldn't recommend doing that.

Maybe close one eye. At least you would still have one good one....