I know it is dangerous to look at the sun with unprotected eyes during a solar eclipse so I would like to know some of the safe ways I can see it.

You're right--you should never look right at the sun. It can hurt your eyes and you might not even know it.

The easiest way to see an eclipse is with two notecards. Have someone poke a hole with a pin in one card. Let the sunlight shine through that hole onto the other card. Hold the cards about half a meter apart. You'll see an image of the sun on the lower card and be able to watch the eclipse without hurting your eyes.

Submitted by Victoria (age 6, Auckland, New Zealand)
(September 8, 1997)



I know it is dangerous to look at the sun with unprotected eyes during a solar eclipse so I would like to know some of the safe ways I can see it.

You're right--you shouldn't look directly into the sun. The sun can damage your eyes even if you can only see a tiny part of it.

The easiest way to see an eclipse is by using two notecards. Poke a hole in one notecard with a pin and let the sun shine through the hole onto the second notecard. Hold the cards about half a meter apart. When the sun is normal, you'll see a circle on the notecard. When the moon moves in front of the sun, the circle will turn into a crescent.

Submitted by Victoria (age 6, Auckland, New Zealand)
(September 8, 1997)



I know it is dangerous to look at the sun with unprotected eyes during a solar eclipse so I would like to know some of the safe ways I can see it.

You're right--you shouldn't look directly into the sun. The sun can cause permanent damage even when 99% of its surface is blocked. It is safe, though, to look through special filters. One of the more common filters is number 14 welder's glass.

The easiest way to view an eclipse is by using two notecards. Poke a hole in one notecard with a pin and let the sunlight shine through the hole onto the second notecard. Hold the cards about half a meter apart. When the sun in unobstructed you'll see a circle. As the moon moves in front of the sun, you'll begin to see a crescent shape.

Submitted by Victoria (age 6, Auckland, New Zealand)
(September 8, 1997)




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