How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

An eclipse will occur when the moon and the Earth form a line with the Sun.

There are actually two kinds of eclipses - a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse.


A lunar eclipse will happens if the Earth moves between the moon and the sun and it blocks part of the Sun's light from the moon. During a lunar eclipse, however, you can see the Earth's shadow on the moon surface.


In a solar eclipse, the moon moves between the sun and the earth. When this happens, a part of the Sun's light is blocked. The sky slowly gets real dark when the moon moves in front of the Sun and blocks it. When the sun and the moon are in a perfect line, it is called a total eclipse of the sun but these are very rare. Most people only get the chance to see one in their whole lifetime.

It is very exciting to be able to watch an eclipse since they happen so sparodically. Make sure you protect your eyes and protect any children who might want to watch it with you.

Never look directly at an eclipse without the proper eye protection

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• viewing apparatus

1. First of all - Never look directly into an eclipse or you could hurt your eyes real bad. You need to protect them all the time.

2. Some stores actually sell eclipse viewing glasses. These would be stores that specialize in science materials.
   
   Never ever ever view it with sunglasses. They are not made to protect your eyes from an eclipse.

3. Welders googles - these must be with a 14 rating or higher to protect your eyes.

4. You can project the image using a small handheld mirror so it appears on the side of a building or on your garage. You can use a small lipstick mirror for this as well.

5. Pinhole glasses and cameras can work as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Protect your eyes at all costs - you only get one set of eyes
• Make sure children do not try to look at it.

[lifeengineer]

on 7/23/2009 Good tips for viewing an eclipse. Thanks.