QUICK PSA
LISTEN. I know how exciting it is that in the continental US the moon is gonna block out the sun, and I know you are gonna want to look directly at it.
I want to look right at it.
I wanna stare at the sun right in its dang face.
BUT DON'T DO THAT.
Like, for reals. I wasn't sure why everybody was like "ooh, so dangerous, don't stare at the sun." I mean, OBVIOUSLY.
But how much more dangerous than run-of-the-mill sun staring can it be?
APPARENTLY, the shadow of the moon dims the brightness of the sun, without blocking any of the UV rays.
This means that you can stare at the sUN RIGHT IN ITS DANG FACE for like a full 10 minutes! Pain free! You are superman and the earth's yellow sun fills you with strength!
But that sneaky gaseous SUN of a gun doesn't tolerate that disrespect
NOT IN ITS SOLAR SYSTEM, PAL.
So, while you are boldly staring at the sun, the cells of your retina are literally being burned and destroyed. And those cells are irreplaceable.
THE DAMAGE CANNOT BE UNDONE.
You can literally go blind, forever, and you won't even know that it's happening,because it won't hurt. That is why solar eclipses are dangerous.
I didn't know, but I do now, and I felt like I needed to tell everybody. Get some of those fancy glasses or something. Carry on, thank you!
