From: KutchScience
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Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 12:23 PM

NEVER EXPERIMENT THIS as IT IS AGAIN DANGEROUS to YOUR EYE & may harm
2U.

Many time questions arise in peoples mind that "It is said that
during the time of the SUN eclipse one should not look at the sun
directly or rather should look through some special specs only. So
what so special happen during eclipse that it can damage ones eyes.
Whether that the sun is covered by moon or not the rays emitting
from sun will remain the same. So why is it so that during eclipse
only one need some help to see the sun" ??

we get some simple form of answers that in simple language we can
say "During Normal times the Sun's intensity is so high that you
will not be able to look up to it. But during an eclipse, when the
sun's disc is partly covered by the moon, it's intensity drastically
reduces. Thus you'll be able to look at the sun's disc without much
difficulty, i'e, we tend to stare at it for a longer time. This can
expose your eyes to the deadly rays, which can lead to blindness".

Relations of the size of the PUPIL aperture of the EYE and Intensity
of Light & Retina exposure in Sun Eclipse.

(Ask for a mail for figure) <=Fig 1: To show the area comparison of
the Area ratio of pupil is 9 times with the Light intensity decrease
of 1/3 times. And light intensity is proportional to the area of the
source as below. (With the decrease of the light intensity during the
Sun eclipse eye pupil becomes wider accordingly.)

When we see to the sun our pupil becomes a PIN POINT size (less than
a sq mm size) but during Near total eclipse pupil may widens to about
40 times in sq mm area.

Here your Eye camera aperture is wider to make an over exposure to
your FILM of RETINA. As the coming sun light has the same intensity
as it come from a slit or aperture – and it is worst at the time of
Diamond Ring – before and after total eclipse of the Sun. BIG
intensity difference as bigger area of sun is covered. (And eye has
some latent time to react to the intensity of light. That is a
physiological reaction time of the pupil by Muscles of IRIS.)

Fig A=> (ASK FOR MAIL for Figures)<= Fig B : In Fig A the area is
about the half and in B about ¾ so the light intensity and the
temperature variations will be accordingly ½ and ¾ th.

So Fig B ¾ th Of the intensity expects exposure 16/9 nearly about the
TWICE only retinal exposures WHILE Fig A eclipse ½ intensity make
retinal exposure of about 4 times.

Not only science says so but old belief too. And they are not wrong.
They have thousands of years of such observations experiences. Many
people say that more severe the eclipse more dangerous it is and that
this calculation study says so.

* Does it affect the pregnancy? And the foetus development? Harder
(severe - covered) the eclipse of the Sun more dangerous it is. –
This will not include in this topics as it needs more detailed
knowledge of the subjects of Physiology, gynaecology, Obstetrics
and Embryology and development of nervous system and part of
radiology. And worth to discuss with those expertise only.

OVER AND ABOVE THESE other simple human factors are included to
multiply those above effects (these all has synergic effects to burn
your Film of retina. This may vary from person to person and genetic
adaptation power of the individuals) and are understood by the
general public. Factors includes are a) MENTAL (Curiosity – anxiety),
b)Physical Temperature tolerance of the body for HEAT of the
atmosphere and more as :

c) Physiological: as we seen above diagrams the (physiological reflex
reactions of the papillary muscles of the eye to the light intensity
and the sensitivity to the visible spectrum of the light. Let me say
that, this not say for invisible infrared and ultraviolet spectrum of
the light. Pupil is not adapted for the reflex reaction to invisible
spectrum light. Ophthalmologist needs to study those in details eg.
Infrared heat rays do not affect the size of the pupil so with
others – microwave, ultraviolet and X-rays etc.)

a) MENTAL (staring time is to be multiplied as Curiosity &
anxiety ), - how often (time in seconds) you look to the sun as a
part of the curiosity to see the Sun in a day in the normal
circumstances? AND how the Curiosity of the SUN eclipse changes your
pattern to those observations? Twice? Thrice? So multiply that times
factor to the above retinal exposure time as a mental curiosity
multiplying factor. And does that curiosity factor vary from type of
the eclipse and partial or totality of the sun eclipse? Find out your
observation figures for Human curiosity. (Many experiments has done
on the insects, birds and animals and plants and do not say that only
exists in us only. We do not understand their behaviour that does not
mean they do not understand nature's behaviour. Every thing do react
to those phenomenon including chloroplasts of the cell of the plant,
birds confused and fly over here and there to the nests, animal and
insects change direction and even wind change – "PAVAN DEVATA BHI
MARG BADAL- dete hai to" What are we?)

b)Physical: Temperature tolerance of the body for HEAT of the
atmosphere. As in normal condition temperature will restrain you to
go out to see Sun but as in Sun eclipse temperature drops according
to the severity of the SUN eclipse, accordingly our body feels more
comfortable to go our out side and more retinal film exposure.
(Body's physiological adaptations: That is less likely with less
eclipse and more likely with more and total eclipse – as temperature
factor is proportional to the severity of the Sun Eclipse). Use this
factor to multiply the total exposure of the Retinal Film of our
Camera of the EYE.

To protect our Camera we should reduce exposure time by Shutter
speeds but here our Physiological shutter goes wrong way by both
Mental and Physical factors.

In the space! We know that the danger is there for radiation exposure
and also Light intensity exposure to our retina as the atmosphere
control is not there. But we and our PUPIL is aware of this
brightness so it reacts normally to control the light input in your
camera of the eye at some extent and rest we do to cover our eyes
with protective glasses – so we do all to protect our film of RETINA
and camera of EYE - like as we are prepared to fight with as our
pupil does react to the brightness. (As we normally prepared to fight
for Defence from incoming dangers).

In space the intensity and radiation are about 100 times than that on
the Earth's. so out of that 100 times radiation and brightness 40% is
controlled by papillary normal physiological reaction and rest we
adjust with protective lenses cover – Crafts window cover and
individual lenses.

In the Sun eclipse. We are not prepared to response – as if thief
takes all behind our knowledge – we get cheated here as our response
is not appropriate. Pupils get cheated as the intensity drops it
allows more rays to enter to the eye. Even a single slit ray or a
spot ray may harm at any time. Rays has no name written on it – that,
that is harmless or not harmless, may it be Sun's Visible or
invisible spectrum light of infrared to ultra violet. Or may it be
industrial X-ray and atomic Gamma waves.

From Yours : Dr. BHUDIA.- Science Group Of INDIA.
President:"Kutch Science Foundation".
Founder President:"Kutch Amateurs Astronomers Club - Bhuj - Kutch".
Life Member:"kutch Itihaas Parishad".

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