Can You Look at the Sun Without a Telescope?

Warning - never ever look at the Sun directlyprojector which allows you to project the Sun
with your telescope. There are ways to see theonto this projection screen and see the details.
Sun with your telescope, but you do not want toNow, you may be thinking, what good are you
look directly at the Sun as it will end in mostgoing to get from looking at the Sun in such a
possible catastrophe.way? But, to the contrary, the Sun has much
Such a stark warning is necessary. As an exampledetail which can be seen with the projection
of the power of the Sun, consider that the Sunmethod. For one, the Sun has much activity on it;
could easily contain 1 million Earths! This Sun is notSunspots appear on the Sun and other
a bonfire it is a galactic power station thatphenomena. With the projection method we can
sustains life on our planet and provides heat andeven get a piece of paper and trace the
light to all the planets in our solar system andSunspots. Then over time, you can see what
beyond.changes are happening on the Sun. What true
Once when using my telescope, I left it outsidescience findings you can do with a telescope!
and put the cap on the eyepiece, but forgot to::: Special Lens - Safe Way To Look At The Sun
put the closure on the front to stop the lightWith A Telescope :::
from entering. Within a few seconds I could smellAgain a couple of warnings, the cheap department
burning. I took the eyepiece cap off to find thestore telescopes may have come equipped with a
plastic had melted somewhat!special Sun viewing eyepiece, however, you must
The Sun is very powerful and one not to benever use this, especially if the telescope brand
played with. However, with all these warning therenew was less than $150.
are ways to look at the Sun in a safe manor, andMost telescopes also come with fittings of
whatever your budget, you can find a great waydifferent colors. These lenses are added to add
to see what the Sun has to offer us buddingcolor when viewing Mars, Saturn, the Moon (to
astronomers.make it darker, as a full Moon can sometimes be
Looking at the Sun can be done with the followingoverpowering!).
methods:Some people also think that you can burn fire and
* Projectionmake soot on the lenses to make them Sun
* Special Lenslenses, but this is so dangerous I warn you not to
::: Projection - Safest Way To Look At The Sundo it, as the cost to your eyes could never be
With A Telescope :::recovered.
Possibly one of the best ways to look at the SunSpecial lenses do exist, and alone cost well over
is to use a principle of the Moon. The Sun is$100. These are very special lenses, and are the
powerful and to counteract the mortal blow ononly ones to be used. My over caution is for
life that would be had if the Sun was to shinegreat reason, the Sun is a dangerous place and
constantly, we have a Moon which gives us agetting your eyes to close to that heat can cause
small portion of the Suns light in the wee hours ofirreversible damage. Best be safe and use the
the night.projection method, it still serves to show you
The aim of this principle is that we deflect thegreat detail, while being safe. Another suggestion
light of the Sun somewhere else and view thatis to keep young children supervised at all times
projection. Some telescopes come with a Sunwhen using any method to view the Sun.