Expert: Ed - 10/8/2008

Question
QUESTION: A couple of years ago, I read "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan, and he discussed a historical astronomer who repeatedly injured his eyes by watching the sun through a telescope.  The atronomer would then take bedrest in complete darkness for days until he could stand to see light again.  What is the name of this astronomer?

ANSWER: Heather,

I loved Cosmos.  My copy is in storage right now, because I thought I was going to move, blah blah blah... you don't care about that.  I am sitting in a library right now, and the empty space on the bookshelf where it's supposed to be is RIGHT BEHIND ME, but... somebody has it out.  Argh.

Could you be thinking of Galileo?  It may be a myth that he damaged his eyes due to observing the sun...  here, look at this link.  Scroll down to the section titled "Naked Eye Solar Hazards," which is about a third of the way down the page.
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/vision/Galileo.html

do any of those astronomers look familiar?  If not, please get back to me in a few days.  I will find a copy of Cosmos someplace, and get the answer for you.

Keep Looking Up!
--Ed

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ed,

Thanks for taking a stab at this.  :-)  It definitely wasn't the urban legend about Galileo that I'm thinking of; Sagan discussed in detail this astronomer's practice of observing the sun through a telescope, so I think this is something that's been thoroughly documented.  I read through the page you suggested and think it may have been John Greaves!  It was definitely a lesser-known name than Galileo.  

Thanks again!  If I ever come upon a copy of Cosmos again, I'll be sure to confirm.

Answer
other possibilities to run past you:  

1.)Gustav Fechner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Fechner

2.)our old pal Isaac Newton.  Scroll down on this link, to right below the part about Greaves.
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/vision/others.html

I would almost bet money that you're thinking of Isaac Newton.  If you click on that link, it has the text of a letter he wrote to John Locke.  It sounds very close to what you were saying in your first allexperts question, if you had remembered the anecdote SLIGHTLY differently.

I will try to get my hands on the Sagan book this weekend, if you want to try me again in a few days.  Have a good one, and try not to watch CNN too much (AAAAHHHHH!!!!!).

Keep Looking Up,
--Ed