Urgent: Smoked glass danger

[Dear_Prudence]

We attended a talk by astronomer (and author) Dean Rega, retired from the Cincinnati Observatory. I asked about smoked glass, but did not mention that I had used it as a kid in 1963 in Maine for the eclipse. He said it was unsafe, dangerous to your eyes. He also said he was astonished because no one has used it since the 1800s, which made me feel mighty old! (I'm 71, not 171, thank you!)

[sinkingfeeling]

1. There's a post on DU to a video for making a smoked glass viewer.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181995400

[Dear_Prudence]

2. Several

I saw a couple posts suggesting smoked glass, which is why I made the post. However, my husband is an amateur astronomer and thinks the smoked glass risk is overblown. But he is a risk taker and, with my eyesight, I am not. But there are different opinions on this apparently.

[dickthegrouch]

3. I always used unexposed, but processed, film.

It is black when processed. Attenuates the light very nicely.
I was even able to see those coronal mass ejections back in 2000ish using film.

I was standing on the Stanford campus with August Rodin’s “Gates of Hell” doors behind me as a fitting backdrop.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. National Park Service advice ...

https://www.nps.gov/articles/eclipsesafety.htm

NASA:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/%E2%80%8B

You don't need fancy glasses or equipment to enjoy one of the sky's most awesome shows: a solar eclipse. With a few simple supplies, you can make a pinhole camera that lets you watch a solar eclipse safely and easily from anywhere.