Whatever you do, don't take a selfie with the solar eclipse
Boris Grdanoski/ AP
The INSIDER Summary:
- You probably know that you shouldn't look directly at today's solar eclipse.
- But taking a selfie with the eclipse behind is still dangerous — even though you're looking away from the sun.
- The UV radiation can bounce off your phone screen and go straight into your eyes.
Staring directly at today's solar eclipse is a bad idea. The UV radiation emitted by the sun — even if it's partially blocked out by the moon — can lead to a condition called solar retinopathy. NASA says that can include blurred vision, dark or yellow spots, pain, or loss of vision in the center of the eye.
But you should also beware of trying to take a selfie with eclipse in the sky behind you. True, you're looking at your phone and not staring up into the sky. But according to a video produced by Columbia University Medical Center (and spotted by Gothamist), it's still dangerous if you do it without proper eye protection.
"Many people will think it's safe to take a selfie with the eclipse in the background because they aren't looking directly at the sun. What they may not realize is that the screen of your phone reflects the ultraviolet rays emitted during an eclipse directly toward your eye, which can result in a solar burn," retina expert Tongalp Tezel, MD, explains in the video.
Watch the whole thing right here:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/ieokKJNigYs
Width: 800px
Height: 450px
Now you know: No eclipse selfies allowed without proper eye protection. Instead, make sure you're wearing specially designed eclipse glasses or using one of the other safe and approved viewing methods. Here's a handy round-up explaining all the options.
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