# Will Starling At A Solar Eclipse Make You Go Blind?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-starling-at-a-solar-eclipse-make-you-go-blind/291880>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 25, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-starling-at-a-solar-eclipse-make-you-go-blind/291880 "2005-02-25T15:06:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-starling-at-a-solar-eclipse-make-you-go-blind/291880/21 "2017-10-05T18:33:00Z")

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> [@Cardiffian](#):
>
> Cecil should have mentioned that it is completely safe to look directly at the sun during the totality period of a total eclipse. I have seen three eclipses so far, including the big one in Mexico in 1991, when I looked directly at the (eclipsed) disk of the sun for nearly seven minutes. The problem comes when people attempt to look at the sun before or after totality: the sun’s brightness is so great that even when only a few % of the surface is exposed it can cause the damage described in the article.

Yes this should be emphasized. Looking at a totally eclipsed disc is completely safe.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-starling-at-a-solar-eclipse-make-you-go-blind/291880/22 "2017-10-06T00:58:44Z")

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Two pirates were talking over grog. One had a peg leg, a hook, and an eye patch. One says to the other:  
“You’ve told yer stories 'bout the leg and the hook. But 'owd you lose the eye?”

The other replies:  
“'Twas a solar eclipse. The grandest sight in the ‘eavens. But a starling spoiled the moment by shittin’ in me eye.”

“That don’t make sense. Ye don’t go blind from bird shite. Just wipe it off.”

“Twas me first day with the hook.”

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**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-starling-at-a-solar-eclipse-make-you-go-blind/291880/23 "2017-10-07T02:19:22Z")

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It’s like seeing cleavage. A quick glance and then you look away!  
/Seinfeld voice

🙂

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