During a total solar eclipse, the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun.
When this happens, the disc of the Moon appears to perfectly cover the disc of the Sun
even though the Sun is much larger than the Moon. But how is this possible?
When this happens, the disc of the Moon appears to perfectly cover the disc of the Sun
even though the Sun is much larger than the Moon. But how is this possible?
The Sun is 400 times bigger than the Moon, but by sheer coincidence, the Moon is 390 times closer to Earth.
Size and distance cancel each other out so that the Moon and Sun appear to be almost the exactly same size.
Every time the Moon orbits the Earth, once every 27.3 days, it has to pass between the Earth and the Sun
a stage called the new moon phase.
And every time it passes, the New Moon has a chance to block out the Sun.
Most of the time, the Moon passes a little above or a little below the Sun, but if they align perfectly
the shadow of the Moon will make a narrow path across Earth and those in the shadows will see a total solar eclipse.
Size and distance cancel each other out so that the Moon and Sun appear to be almost the exactly same size.
Every time the Moon orbits the Earth, once every 27.3 days, it has to pass between the Earth and the Sun
a stage called the new moon phase.
And every time it passes, the New Moon has a chance to block out the Sun.
Most of the time, the Moon passes a little above or a little below the Sun, but if they align perfectly
the shadow of the Moon will make a narrow path across Earth and those in the shadows will see a total solar eclipse.
But while the moon perfectly covers the surface of the Sun, it doesn’t block out the Sun’s outer atmosphere, its corona, which appears as a fiery ring around the dark disc of the moon.
Solar eclipses occur several times a year, but most often they are partial eclipses where the Moon doesn’t quite line up with the Sun. And, when the Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned, the Moon is usually too far from Earth in its orbit to completely cover the Sun, creating an annular eclipse.
During an annular or partial eclipse, the sky remains bright. Even on those rare occasions of a total eclipse, the Moon’s shadow is most likely to fall on the 70% of Earth that is covered by water, and few people, if any, will see it.
DON’T LOOK AT THE SUN!
So how do you view it safely? Well, there a few techniques and ways you can enjoy it at home.
Solar Glasses are a great way to go out and see it
you can pick these up from most telescope shops or online.
This way you can just pop out look up and see it easily just using your eyes.
Please don’t use smoked glass or welders masks as these don’t block out some of the harmful rays,
and can damage your eyes.
Solar eclipses occur several times a year, but most often they are partial eclipses where the Moon doesn’t quite line up with the Sun. And, when the Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned, the Moon is usually too far from Earth in its orbit to completely cover the Sun, creating an annular eclipse.
During an annular or partial eclipse, the sky remains bright. Even on those rare occasions of a total eclipse, the Moon’s shadow is most likely to fall on the 70% of Earth that is covered by water, and few people, if any, will see it.
DON’T LOOK AT THE SUN!
So how do you view it safely? Well, there a few techniques and ways you can enjoy it at home.
Solar Glasses are a great way to go out and see it
you can pick these up from most telescope shops or online.
This way you can just pop out look up and see it easily just using your eyes.
Please don’t use smoked glass or welders masks as these don’t block out some of the harmful rays,
and can damage your eyes.
|
|
There are also some easy DIY ways to see the eclipse and fun projects
You can Download a FREE Fact Sheet Here!
One of the most popular ways of viewing an eclipse is making a pin hole projector.
Which is pretty much a box with a pin hole that projects the sun through it onto the card.
It’s a cool thing to have a go at making with the kids etc.
Other easy ways are use two pieces of card.
pop a hole in one and project it trough on to the other.
Use a colander or kitchen strainer,the holes in it are perfect to make lots of little eclipses,
onto white card or paper.
You can even use your hands overlapping your fingers at right angles,
to make holes big enough to let the sun through onto paper.
You can Download a FREE Fact Sheet Here!
One of the most popular ways of viewing an eclipse is making a pin hole projector.
Which is pretty much a box with a pin hole that projects the sun through it onto the card.
It’s a cool thing to have a go at making with the kids etc.
Other easy ways are use two pieces of card.
pop a hole in one and project it trough on to the other.
Use a colander or kitchen strainer,the holes in it are perfect to make lots of little eclipses,
onto white card or paper.
You can even use your hands overlapping your fingers at right angles,
to make holes big enough to let the sun through onto paper.
|
|
|
Now these techniques are fun and easy but the view will be small and slightly dim, to really get a good look you can use binoculars JUST DON’T LOOK THROUGH THEM!
Pop them on a tripod, make a sun shield from a piece or card by cutting a hole or two in it,
popping it over one or both of the ends of the binoculars.
Then hold another piece of card/paper about a foot from the viewing part,
and it should project it onto it safely.
But make sure to give your binoculars a cooling break now and then,
as the eyepiece may become overheated and the lens elements may separate,
if you leave it pointed at the Sun for too long.
You can do this with a refracting telescope as well, as it uses a lens not mirror.
Use the shadow on the ground to get it lined up with the Sun,
NOT THE FINDER AS IT WILL BLIND YOU!
Now, you can get filters for you binoculars and telescopes,
and this is the safest way to enjoy the partial eclipse aswell as viewing sunspots etc.
Most pop on the end of our scope and will allow you to see it in yellow, some in white,
as this helps the black sun spots stand out and are easier to view.
If you have a refractor you can get a Herschel Wedge
which replaces the star diagonal part which you put your eyepieces into.
This gives you a clearer and better view but costs a bit more.
IF IN DOUBT JUST ASK THE TELESCOPE SUPPLIER,
to ensure you get the right gear that’s safe for you.
So hopefully that gives you a rough run down of safe ways to watch an Eclipse.
Pop them on a tripod, make a sun shield from a piece or card by cutting a hole or two in it,
popping it over one or both of the ends of the binoculars.
Then hold another piece of card/paper about a foot from the viewing part,
and it should project it onto it safely.
But make sure to give your binoculars a cooling break now and then,
as the eyepiece may become overheated and the lens elements may separate,
if you leave it pointed at the Sun for too long.
You can do this with a refracting telescope as well, as it uses a lens not mirror.
Use the shadow on the ground to get it lined up with the Sun,
NOT THE FINDER AS IT WILL BLIND YOU!
Now, you can get filters for you binoculars and telescopes,
and this is the safest way to enjoy the partial eclipse aswell as viewing sunspots etc.
Most pop on the end of our scope and will allow you to see it in yellow, some in white,
as this helps the black sun spots stand out and are easier to view.
If you have a refractor you can get a Herschel Wedge
which replaces the star diagonal part which you put your eyepieces into.
This gives you a clearer and better view but costs a bit more.
IF IN DOUBT JUST ASK THE TELESCOPE SUPPLIER,
to ensure you get the right gear that’s safe for you.
So hopefully that gives you a rough run down of safe ways to watch an Eclipse.