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Introduction:

As you learned on our site an eclipse is the partial or total blocking of the Sun by the Even though the sun's light appears dark during a solar eclipse, it is still EXTREMELY dangerous to look at the Sun directly. If you do look at the Sun during an eclipse it would be the same as if you looked at it directly on a sunny day. Eye damage and even blindness may occur.

Despite what some may say to you, Sun glasses, exposed film, or camera filters will NOT protect your vision.

There are only two ways can you can view an eclipse. One is with a piece of really thick, really dark BLACK glass. We do not recommend this approach. Rather we recommend that you make what is called a Sun Viewer.

Materials:

1. 2 pieces of cardboard (preferable), posterboard or regular paper
2. pin

Procedure:

1. Using the pin make a hole in one of the pieces of cardboard.
2. Stand with you back or side to the Sun.
3. Hold the cardboard with the hole in it so that the Sun fall on it.
4. Hold the other piece in the opposite hand.
5. Move the cardboard without the hole closer to or farther away from the cardboard with the pinhole.
6. Continue doing this until you see a small, sharp image of the Sun.
7. Watch as the moon's shadow moves across the Sun and - Taa Daa! A miniature solar eclipse!

Reminder: In the course of this project never look directly at the sun!