2003 Transit of Mercury

angkor writes "It is happening today (all day in Asia)! NASA's SOHO page, Fred Espenak's 'Transit of Mercury' site, and live webcasts of the transit. You'll want to use the webcast, in spite of advice from our hometown paper, the Bangkok Post, which reported 'those interested in viewing it directly were advised to watch through black tinted glasses.'"

Comments

Don't do it, kids!

[fobbman]

This is what your eyes will look like if you watch the event through dark tinted glasses.

Re:Sunglasses

[Imabug]

I recall my first eclipse experience when I was in 3rd grade. All the windows were covered over, the curtains were drawn, and nobody was allowed outside. The school was sealed up tight. Observation areas were set up at some windows with a piece of welder's glass so students could take a peek at the eclipse.

We were of course warned that we shouldn't look at the sun during the eclipse, but the overall impression that most of my fellow students were left with was that being outside during an eclipse was dangerous, like somehow the sun had changed and the light would cause people to go blind or something.

Better to be safe than sorry I suppose, but I recall a few friends getting nervous during the next eclipse several years later.

Not the end of world?

[april10]

And no cult proclaiming the end of the world? How odd..