I thought you could go blind looking at the sun.

Edit: My title was worded badly. I meant how people don’t go blind. I understand why people look at sunsets, just not how they do blind. That’s my fault.

Edit: Thanks for all the replies and clarification!

Here’s what I learned incase anyone else has had the same question as me, the reason we don’t go blind is that we’re usually looking at the colours of the sky during a sunset and only some few second glances at the sun.

Looking at the sun also doesn’t make us go blind during sunrise and sunset because the light rays have to go through more atmosphere, so by the time they reach your eyes, the rays are weaker. It’s fine to look at the sun for a few seconds when it’s more red than white or yellow.

Again, thanks for all the clarification.

  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    1 year ago

    Even as the sun isn’t below the horizon…. You’re not usually looking at the sun.

    OP probably also wonders why people look at stars. “Milky Way ain’t real, man!” Was a depressing thing a kid told me.

    • Provoked Gamer@lemmy.caOP
      10·
      1 year ago

      I wasn’t wondering about the appeal. I got that. I was wondering how people don’t go blind since looking at the sun can make you permanently blind. I realize my title was worded pretty badly.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
        13·
        1 year ago

        you can glance at the sun for brief moments and not got blind. it’s long term staring that becomes the problem. When watching the sunset, it’s usually everything else that’s being watched.

        • Provoked Gamer@lemmy.caOP
          2·
          1 year ago

          Oh ok, so we usually look at everything else (like the colours and stuff) + glancing at the sun for a few seconds is fine + the sun is less blind inducing during dawn and dusk (from a different person’s comment). I think I understand this now, thanks!