|
|
Article: Kids' Q&A: Questions and answers for kids.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 28, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Q. What causes you to go blind when you look at a solar eclipse? _Melissa Hellings
A. When the moon comes between the sun and Earth, it blocks out a lot of the sun for a few minutes at a time in any one location. The bright light of the sun is cut off to a large degree and this makes it easy to stare at the sun _ without even squinting. If the moon is completely shutting off the sun's rays, called totality, it is OK to look at the sun without special protection. But in a partial eclipse, or as the sun begins to emerge from the eclipse, the infrared radiation is dangerous; it destroys the delicate cells of the eyes. The next total solar eclipse will be Oct. 24, but it ...