Why is safety a concern in solar observing?
The sun is very bright, and radiates strongly in infrared and ultraviolet as well as in visible light. The effects of this strong solar radiation will cause permanent eye damage instantly if the sun is observed with optical aid in the absence of safety precautions. The sun will even injure eyes during naked-eye observation after only a second or less. Other than the possibility of uncomfortably bright light, no pain will be experienced during eye injury due to the nerve population of the retina. For this reason, it is imperative that the sun only be observed using safe methods that prevent the damaging infrared and ultraviolet light from reaching the eye, as well as cutting down on the visible light and bringing it to comfortable levels.
