OK to View Sun With Solar Eclipse Glasses?

Hi All,

Another poster said you could see the Sun's spots using a solar filter and the naked eye.

I don't have a solar filter. Is it totally safe to view the sun with the dark glasses that came with Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazine which were supplied when they did articles on a solar eclipse?

Thanks for your replies,
Darlene

I had some solar eclipse shades, and i looked at the sun with no problem. Ive never taken a solor filter for a telescope and held it up to the sun though. I cut the shades apart and put it infront of my teleconverter for my camera, coupled with a 300mm lens, effectivly making it a 600mm lens, and it melted a big hole in the middle. So dont try to magnify the sun with them, haha!

Hi All,

Here's a reply I got from Herbert on the Equipment Talk Forum:

http://www.astromart.com/messages.asp?message_id=129568&page=

See my reply for links to articles about materials considered safe and unsafe for solar viewing.

Clear Skies,
Darlene