Can you go blind looking at a full moon through a telescope?

[DizzyGazer]

Originally Posted by DarkTempo

I rarely look at the moon, but when i do i use a small scope or mask the aperture (even with a cardboard with a hole in it :P)

Howdy DarkTempo...and welcome to AFN!

Great to have you with us. Be sure to stop by the [Registered users can see links. ] and tell us a bit about yourself and your gear (typical astronomers...lots of inquiring minds..LOL)

I've always used a variable polarizing filter, as it make everything just perfect, especially for getting into the shadows of the craters, etc.

Mike

[star drop]

Hi DarkTempo,

Welcome to Astronomy Forum.
Sometimes I will look at the full moon through my telescope without a filter or an aperture mask and doing so has not made me blind.

[roverich]

YES ...You can go blind looking at the moon through a telescope ...If someone pokes you in the eye with a stick while looking at the moon .......LOL ... ... No you cant ... You might see small dots from it being too bright .. But you will be all right ...Unless someone has a stick ...

[outdoorsfellar]

Not that the moon can make ya go blind, but there's been a few times in the past that what I DID do during a full moon, that almost made me go blind ...lol

[DarkTempo]

Originally Posted by star drop

Hi DarkTempo,

Welcome to Astronomy Forum.
Sometimes I will look at the full moon through my telescope without a filter or an aperture mask and doing so has not made me blind.

I prefer having more contrast, without masking everything is so washed out. But then again, the moon got kind of boring :P

Thanks for the warm wellcome guys, i'll stop by the introduction forum ... sometime in the near future :P

[Gandalf223]

Originally Posted by water_skipper

Can you go blind looking at a full moon through a telescope?

No, but you'll sure hose your night vision for a while.

It will probably cost you a couple magnitudes (i.e., you won't be able see faint stars) for at least a half hour, so if you're going to do both the moon and doubles on the same night, either use a lunar filter or do the doubles first!

[star drop]

At the end of last nights observing session I watched the rising last quarter moon at 99x for about fifteen minutes. After I had put the telescope and ladder back into the shed I walked towards the house with only one eye fully functioning. My observing eye still could not see the ground in front of me as I walked along. Once I got into the kitchen and turned on the lights that eye was viewing comfortably again. No permanent damage was done.
Some temporary damage was done though as one of our outside cats got in front of my foot as I was walking. I did not see him in the dark and he went for a little bounce off the toe of my shoe.

[Candymancan]

These spots people are talking about i assume they are the spot you get from looking at lightbulbs directly right ?

[star drop]

Originally Posted by Candymancan

These spots people are talking about i assume they are the spot you get from looking at lightbulbs directly right ?

Yes, that is exactly what the members are referring to.

[star drop]

Originally Posted by DarkTempo

I prefer having more contrast, without masking everything is so washed out. But then again, the moon got kind of boring :P

Thanks for the warm wellcome guys, i'll stop by the introduction forum ... sometime in the near future :P

Washed out perhaps but on several occasions I have noticed distinct hues on different portions of the lunar surface that were not detectable using a neutral density filter.