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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Binastro" data-source="post: 3609072" data-attributes="member: 111403">Thanks all for the lovely reports.I really appreciate them.Chosun.At events run by astronomers, and there were many, there are one or more people who shout out warnings with exact timing, so people can look with unaided eyes and start using unfiltered optics, and again when to use filtered optics.The corona generally alters appearance with the 11 year Sun cycle (Perhaps 22 years?).Sunspots can appear at all times but are usually larger at certain times.With my hydrogen alpha scope there were several small sunspots the next day. It was cloudy on the tiny partial eclipse day here. There were small prominences around the Sun and some active areas on the disc.I think the chief concern if one catches the emerging Sun accidentally is temporary blindness. It would stop one seeing any further details, but probably recover over the next few days.If one sees even 1/100th the disk it would still cause harm, a very thin sliver of tissue affected in the central retina. It might affect reading or fine detail somewhat. However, using unfiltered optical magnification any exposure to any part of the Sun's disc must be avoided.So one should stop looking at least a few seconds early.The person timing will count down the seconds of totality remaining.The reports of eye damage are encouraging. There have been some. But the general public seems to have followed expert advice in the main.Any injuries will be followed up for three or even six months to see what happens, but little can actually be done.I would normally have expected about 250 cases of permanent eye damage from an eclipse covering so much area. The main concern is the general public in partial eclipse areas.But with media now being so different and widespread I had no idea what would happen.What the final total will be is unknown, but so far eye doctors are pleased with the outcome.Sometimes people never realise or realise after years that their poor reading abilities may be partly due to an eclipse.There are so many cases of macular degeneration and 50 other eye problems as people age, that eclipse blindness numbers are very small in comparison.That is why eye professionals are unconcerned with events happening every ten years compared to daily general eye problems.A relative had an eye tumour very young, Yet he carried out extensive sky observations using a selected 15x70 Revelation binocular that I gave him. I was really impressed by his courage. Radioactive implants were used. This is tricky as the surgeon needs to limit his exposure to multiple procedures.</blockquote>

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