this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2024
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It's exactly the same as staring at the regular sun except the pain reflex doesn't happen, so you aren't incentivized to stop. Technically, yes, you can look at the sun for a brief moment, but the problem is that your eyes don't scream at you to stop when it's an eclipse.
If you can see any part of the sun, it can damage your eyes. The problem isn't the total amount of light, but the energy density. The energy density of the light from the sun doesn't change no matter how much is covered, until you get to 100%. When you stare at the sun, you're kinda sorta cooking that spot on your retina, and it's only dependent on the energy density of the light, not the size of the spot.
Think of it like cooking a spot on a steak with a lighter. Sure, you'd normally use a whole campfire, but fire is fire. You'll cook the spot under the lighter if you leave it there too long.
Ty for the info! I wonder why the pain reflex doesn't trigger?
This is absolute total speculation but my guess is that the pain sensation is more of an interpretation created by your brain than any direct sensing of damage to your retina. Whatever it is that creates that sensation must require a certain number of nerves to be over simulated.
If you get shot in the eye with a sufficiently powerful laser (not a little laser pen) you'll actually hear a pop from your retina exploding, but you won't feel any pain.
Thanks for the imagery...