# How did ancient people see eclipses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013 "2017-08-18T22:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/1 "2017-08-18T22:52:19Z")
Not what explanations and opinions they had on eclipses, but how did they actually view them? Yes, the total eclipses would have been dead obvious, but what about partial eclipses. Did people stare directly at the sun, or just not notice that it happened? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/2 "2017-08-18T23:23:22Z")
How ancient? There are some recorded records of eclipses from early Greeks and Chinese sources. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/3 "2017-08-18T23:29:04Z")
They probably noticed.:smack: And they probably grimaced as they observed.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/4 "2017-08-18T23:44:40Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > … what about partial eclipses. Did people stare directly at the sun, or just not notice that it happened? No need to stare - you can glance at the sun and see it’s partially eclipsed. If it’s more than about 15%, it would be very hard not to notice. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/5 "2017-08-19T01:24:38Z")
Heck you can see the eclipse in leaf shadows thanks to the pin hole effect. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/6 "2017-08-19T01:30:50Z")
They looked up, and sketched or recorded in some other way what they saw. They may have blinded themselves temporarily as a result. They may have shortened the amount of their life time of being sighted. Its been recorded that Galileo’s viewing of the magnified sun for sunspots was the cause of his late-life blindness. This was known even in his time. People who look at the sun end up blind. We’re cautioned by the news and school books NOT to do this. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/7 "2017-08-19T02:15:21Z")
Now is the time to mention the Greeks used a computer to calculate them: > [@](#): > > The Antikythera mechanism (/ˌæntɪkɪˈθiːrə/ ANT-i-ki-THEER-ə or /ˌæntɪˈkɪθərə/ ANT-i-KITH-ə-rə) is an ancient Greek analogue computer and orrery used to predict astronomical positions and **eclipses** for calendar and astrological purposes. It could also track the four-year cycle of athletic games which was similar (though not identical) to an Olympiad, the cycle of the ancient Olympic Games. > **[Antikythera mechanism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism)** > > The Antikythera mechanism (/ˌæntɪkɪˈθɪərə/ AN-tik-ih-THEER-ə, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}US also /ˌæntaɪkɪˈ-/ AN-ty-kih-) is an Ancient Greek hand-powered orrery (model of the Solar System), described as the oldest known example of an analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in This artefa... Youtube video: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DiQSHiAYt98/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC6AKKAgwIABABGGUgUyhFMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA36nqF3fgUH0b1BkbFRub8d7lsrw "Antikythera Mechanism Part 1: by Nature Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiQSHiAYt98) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/8 "2017-08-19T02:28:17Z")
What could an ancient viewer have had on hand that could have helped him safely view the eclipse? Two bonus questions: When did we start weaving (several layers of woven cloth could function as a crude form of shade through which to observe the sun/an eclipse)? And when did we start making shaded glass? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/9 "2017-08-19T03:06:40Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > No need to stare - you can glance at the sun and see it’s partially eclipsed. If it’s more than about 15%, it would be very hard not to notice. Yes, but how often do you as much as glance directly at the sun (when it isn’t low on the horizon?) Unless you notice a dimming of the light, why would you be looking at the sun at all? (I’m asking in the context of the warnings of eye damage from even brief glances at the sun.) I used “ancient” as a shorthand for “any time or place without tinted eclipse glasses.” ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/10 "2017-08-19T04:13:37Z")
Sometimes the sun rises or sets while eclipsed. In that case, it would be hard not to notice it. And all it takes is one person in a community to look at the sun and then start shrieking that something is _wrong_ with it. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/11 "2017-08-19T04:23:22Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > What could an ancient viewer have had on hand that could have helped him safely view the eclipse? How about a piece of something thin with a pinhole? When were pinholes invented? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/12 "2017-08-19T04:53:03Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > What could an ancient viewer have had on hand that could have helped him safely view the eclipse? Reflection in a pool (or a bucket) of water. Which is not particularly safe either, however. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/13 "2017-08-19T05:16:40Z")
It’s quite noticeable. The light gets dimmer, shadows look weird, and if you glance at the sun you see a bit taken out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/14 "2017-08-19T05:23:21Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > What could an ancient viewer have had on hand that could have helped him safely view the eclipse? Amber or other transparent colored gems could be used; amber can be sliced into sheets. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/15 "2017-08-19T06:04:42Z")
Relatively few pre-modern people would have had foreknowledge of an impending eclipse and the resources to obtain gems or sheets of amber in preparation. There aren’t any accounts of mass blindness associated with an eclipse among pre-modern people, as far as I know. Presumably if there were such instances, the stories would have circulated in the run-up to this eclipse. This suggests to me that with a certain amount of common sense and care, the mass of people can get through an eclipse just fine without special tools. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/16 "2017-08-19T06:51:43Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > How about a piece of something thin with a pinhole? When were pinholes invented? Quite some time ago in the form of the [camera obscura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_obscura#History). No doubt, inspired by seeing projections from a canopy of leaves or perhaps wickerwork. Earliest know writings come from 400 BCE China followed closely by Aristotle. Seems reasonble that predates written history as the article suggest. Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/17 "2017-08-19T12:14:07Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It’s quite noticeable. The light gets dimmer, shadows look weird, and if you glance at the sun you see a bit taken out of it. I was near dead center for the [annular eclipse of 1984](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_30,_1984) (the “x” where it crosses 2017 marks my spot) and I don’t recall anything noticeable about it in the surrounding environment (but I was 12 at the time.) Oh, and besides the reflecting dish method, I looked directly at it. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/18 "2017-08-19T12:26:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Yes, but how often do you as much as glance directly at the sun (when it isn’t low on the horizon?) Occasionally - for a very short time. No eye damage thus far. > [@](#): > > Unless you notice a dimming of the light, why would you be looking at the sun at all? Curiosity. Watching it emerge from or disappear behind a cloud. Watching a bird that happens to fly near it. Catching a baseball. Etc. The change in light due to even a slight eclipse would of course attract much attention. > [@](#): > > I’m asking in the context of the warnings of eye damage from even brief glances at the sun. Those warnings are probably overdone - or at least over-interpreted. They speak of the possibility of eye damage, and some people hear it as a near certainty. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/19 "2017-08-19T12:33:39Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > The change in light due to even a slight eclipse would of course attract much attention. But the moon creeps across the sun much more slowly than a cloud passing in front of it, and the eye has a huge dynamic range for adjusting to different lighting conditions. I’m not so sure that they would notice a very slow decrease in light level at all unless it approached twilight conditions. ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013/20 "2017-08-19T17:08:08Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But the moon creeps across the sun much more slowly than a cloud passing in front of it, and the eye has a huge dynamic range for adjusting to different lighting conditions. I’m not so sure that they would notice a very slow decrease in light level at all unless it approached twilight conditions. IMHO you are wrong, But then again, maybe the ancients were exceptionally unobservant.:smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-ancient-people-see-eclipses/794013.md?page=2)