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Because I drove down to the zone where it was totally covered up for two minutes and you could sit there in the middle of the dark and marvel at the black disk of the moon covering the sun with its white halo sticking out.
I have to say one of the most intense and memorable experiences of my life, I'm so glad I made the drive down from Chicago and very glad we had clear skies!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I was not even tempted. I stayed in my office and looked out the window to see that it got dark enough for lights to come on and then looked across the road at all the people standing in a parking lot looking silly with their eclipse glasses on. Here it was less full than the one I saw in 1979, so no big deal.
In the run-up to the eclipse, did anyone hear or read a warning that even a quarter of a second exposure to direct sunlight can permanently damage the retina?
<<Smith warns even a quick glance at the eclipse could have been enough to cause damage. "Anything greater than a quarter of a second — that's where the damage begins...."
Depending on the duration of the exposure the consequences could be permanent.
"There will be an initial damage that will resolve somewhat, but you will always have that scar."
Smith notes the long-term consequences also include macular degeneration and cataracts, which can cause further loss of vision later in life.>>
I wonder if people should play baseball or tennis during a bright day, or sun bathe, etc.
If this warning is accurate, persons (especially children) should be made more aware of this danger repeatedly, and not just during eclipses. Suddenly schools that closed because they didn't feel confident that they could monitor the actions of their students don't seem so ridiculous.
Although everybody was repeatedly warned not to look at the sun, I never heard any warnings about the risk of even a quarter second exposure. I'm certain many persons took a peek thinking that they've often looked many times at the sun in their lifetimes for a short period.
My wife and I were in the eye doctors office getting her examined for cataracts. During the exam, the doctor stopped and excused her self to go outside and see it. We didn't go.
I didn't peak despite the cloud cover. Clouds are completely transparent to ultraviolet radiation, they so offer little to no eye protection.
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