The Sun's corona, a superheated plasma halo extending thousands of miles into space, becomes visible during a total solar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow and briefly obscuring the Sun's bright face.
The corona is characterized by luminous flares and jets of gas that are far hotter than the Sun's visible surface. Observing the corona requires special precautions to protect the eyes from direct sunlight. Even when a significant portion of the Sun is obscured, the remaining exposed parts can cause severe eye damage.
To view the eclipse and the corona safely, specialized eye protection, such as certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers, is essential for any stage of the eclipse where the Sun is not completely covered. During the brief period of totality, when the Sun is entirely hidden by the Moon, it is safe to remove these filters to view the corona. However, as soon as any part of the bright solar disk reappears, the filters must be put back on immediately.
Experts advise against using regular sunglasses, even dark ones, as they do not provide adequate protection. Pinhole projectors are another safe method for indirect viewing, projecting an image of the Sun onto a surface. These methods ensure that viewers can witness the spectacular display of the corona without risking their vision.