How to view an eclipse

An eclipse occurs when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun get in the path of each other and partially obstruct our view. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon gets between the Sun and Earth. During a Lunar eclipse, it’s the Earth that moves to place itself between the Sun and Moon. Eclipses have different durations depending on the time of year they occur, and are classified as either partial or total depending on the placement of the planets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sunglasses made with Mylar
• <br>Large sheet of paper (construction paper is ideal)

1. Learn as much as you can about the eclipse beforehand. This will allow you to understand the time it occurs, the different phases, and the items to better view the eclipse without damaging your eyes.

2. Shop for solar viewers, a set of paper glasses that looks like a toy but is made with Mylar, a polyester plastic film that can block the harmful rays of the sun and offer effective protection to those watching a solar eclipse. You can also add a small sheet of Mylar to the end of a telescope or a set of binoculars.

3. Make your own pinhole projector using a large piece of paper in which you have made a small hole. Then hold the paper over a flat surface, without actually touching the ground. When the eclipse occurs, you should be able to see the image projected directly through the hole and onto the ground.

4. Do not look directly into the sun unless you are using a specially-designed item to protect your eyes. The trouble with an eclipse is that you may not feel anything while you are watching but can suffer retina damage as a consequence.

Tips & Warnings

• When watching a solar eclipse, do not use plain sunglasses, binoculars, or a telescope. Despite what many people believe, looking directly at the sun through smoked glass does not offer any protection and can damage your retinas permanently.