Selfie Camera Eclipse Viewing: Is It Safe?

The upcoming solar eclipse has many people reaching for their phones to snap a selfie with the rare phenomenon in the background. But is it safe? Experts say that harmful UV rays can bounce off your phone screen and into your eyes, causing solar burns. While it's fine to use your phone to view or capture the eclipse, you should never look directly at the sun without protective eyewear. To safely take a selfie with the eclipse, you'll need ISO-certified eclipse glasses and a Mylar or solar filter for your phone camera.

The sun's rays can damage your phone's camera sensor

The sun's rays can indeed damage your phone's camera sensor. The sun can damage the sensors in your camera, altering the way it refracts and filters light. Enough exposure could cause the sensor to break entirely, rendering the camera useless.

When you take a photograph of the sun, you are using the lens as a magnifying glass, and the sensors as the ants. Your sensor is designed to detect and filter light, but when there is too much light, permanent damage can be done.

Even if you use protective lens attachments for your front-facing camera, you are still running a high risk of causing permanent damage. They may help add a few seconds of protection to direct exposure, but they are not recommended for photographing the sun.

The sun's rays can also damage your eyes, so it is important to never look directly at the sun during an eclipse without the appropriate eyewear protection. Regular sunglasses do not count as eclipse glasses, and are not sufficient to protect your eyes.

If you want to photograph an eclipse, it is recommended that you use a solar filter. These can be purchased or made at home, and will protect both your eyesight and your camera. You can tape a solar filter over your phone's camera lens, or hold a sheet of solar filter in front of the sun when framing your shot.

It is also safer to take still images than it is to record a video, as there is less exposure time with a single image.

The screen of your phone reflects UV rays

It is not safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse without proper eye protection, as solar radiation can damage the retina. While looking at an eclipse on your phone may protect your eyes, it may not protect your phone. According to NASA, "smartphones were never designed to do sun and moon photography."

In the study, an iPad 2 increased UV exposure by 85%, and an 11-inch MacBook by 75%. An iPhone 5 positioned further away increased exposure by 36%. These findings suggest that just as much damage is being done to our skin indoors as outdoors.

To protect yourself from the reflected UV rays, researchers advise covering your shoulders, wearing sunglasses, and applying sunscreen, especially to exposed areas of the neck and face. They also suggest that device manufacturers could redesign their products to be less reflective or include UV sensor technology to track user exposure.

You can use a solar filter to protect your phone

It is unsafe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse without the appropriate eyewear protection as the solar radiation can damage the retina. Similarly, the sun can damage your phone's camera lens and sensor. According to NASA, the phone sensor could be at a high risk of damage if pointed directly at the sun. Therefore, it is important to use a solar filter to protect your phone when attempting to view or capture an eclipse.

A solar filter can protect your phone's camera from sunlight damaging the lens and overexposing your shot. You can purchase ready-made smartphone solar filters, such as the VisiSolar Smartphone Photo Filter and the Solar Snap Eclipse App Kit. Alternatively, you can make your own solar filter by holding or taping a lens from a pair of solar glasses over your phone's camera lens. The glasses must be ISO-certified, meeting the ISO 12312-2 standard, and should be free of defects such as scratches, bubbles, and dents.

When using a solar filter with your phone, it is important to ensure that the filter is larger than the lens itself and that it remains on at all times during the viewing experience. Additionally, it is recommended to manually set the focus and exposure on your phone to achieve the best shot. To do this, tap the moon on your screen and then adjust the exposure by dragging the sun icon up or down. For Android users, hold your finger on the moon on the screen for several seconds before moving your finger left or right to adjust the focus.

It is worth noting that even with a solar filter, capturing the eclipse on your phone may not result in the best photo or video. The sun may appear too small on the screen, and there may be issues with exposure time and jitters. Nevertheless, using a solar filter is essential to protect your device and your eyesight.

You can use eclipse glasses to protect your phone

It is unsafe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse without the appropriate eyewear protection, as solar radiation can damage the retina. To protect your eyes, eclipse glasses are recommended. These are special glasses that block out the most dangerous parts of the solar spectrum for human eyes. When looking through them, the sun should appear as an easy-to-view yellow-orange circle.

You can also use eclipse glasses to protect your phone's camera lens when taking pictures of an eclipse. According to NASA, a special solar protector could be placed in front of a camera. However, they recommend seeking advice from an astronomy or other expert before doing so.

It is important to note that regular sunglasses do not provide enough protection, regardless of how dark the lenses are. Instead, you should use ISO-approved eclipse glasses, which must meet certain safety requirements:

• No more than 0.00032% of sunlight may be transmitted through the filters.
• Filters must be free of defects, including scratches, bubbles, and dents.
• Handheld viewers must cover both the right and left eye.
• Product labels must include the manufacturer's name, instructions for safe use, and warnings of any dangers of improper use.

To ensure your safety, it is recommended to purchase eclipse glasses from reputable vendors and manufacturers, such as those listed by the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

You can safely take selfies during a total eclipse

A total solar eclipse is a rare and exciting event. Capturing the moment with a selfie is a great way to document your experience, and it can be done safely. However, it's important to take the necessary precautions to protect your eyes and your phone camera.

Firstly, it's crucial to understand the potential dangers. Even during a total eclipse, when the sun is fully obscured, harmful UV rays can bounce off your phone screen and into your eyes. Therefore, it's essential to wear solar eclipse glasses to protect your eyes from damage. These glasses must meet ISO 12312-2 international standards, ensuring that no more than 0.00032% of sunlight is transmitted through the filters.

Secondly, your phone camera also needs protection. The sun's intensity can damage your camera sensor, so it's recommended to use a solar filter specifically designed for solar viewing. These filters should be larger than the lens and must be kept on at all times during the eclipse. You can either screw the filter in front of the lens or tape it on securely.

Additionally, be mindful of the lighting conditions during the eclipse. As the sky grows darker, colours become more muted, which can result in dull selfies. Experts recommend wearing red and green outfits to make your eclipse selfies pop. The Purkinje effect, a phenomenon that affects our colour perception during the transition from daylight to darkness, makes reds appear dark and muted while keeping green vibrant.

Finally, consider using a digital camera or DSLR for a closer image of the eclipsed sun. Just remember to protect the camera lens with a solar filter. Also, follow the usual selfie best practices, such as using a selfie stick or tripod and enabling portrait or live photo mode.

In summary, you can safely take selfies during a total eclipse by following these simple steps: wear solar eclipse glasses, protect your phone camera with a solar filter, dress in red and green colours, and consider using a dedicated camera for better image quality. Enjoy the eclipse and happy selfie-taking!

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