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How to view the solar eclipse safely with kids

How to view the solar eclipse safely with kids

A lot of parents are wondering how view the Monday’s solar eclipse safely with kids. Although 85 per cent of the sun will blocked by the moon and it will appear dark outside, no one should not stare at Monday’s partial solar eclipse with the naked eye. It’s as damaging as staring into the full sun.

It is also unsafe to watch the eclipse through sunglasses, X-ray or colour film, or other mediums such as smoked glass. Doing so even for a couple of seconds could permanently harm your vision.
Here are a ways to view the solar eclipse visible without damaging your eyes.

How to view the solar eclipse safely with kids

Attend an local eclipse viewing event

Head to one of the astronomical events around town where experts will have telescopes, indoor viewing stations and safety goggles or glasses.Procure the correct safety glasses

To view the sun directly (and safely), you MUST USE certified solar-viewing glasses AKA eclipse glasses according to the safety recommendations from NASA. The lenses of solar-viewing glasses are made from special-purpose solar filters that are hundreds of thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses. NASA recommend that solar-viewing or eclipse glasses meet the current international standard: ISO 12312-2.>Don’t have glasses? Join the club! Here are a few ways to view the eclipse indirectly:

Create a pin hole viewer

Perhaps the most well-known way to stare indirectly at an eclipse is to create your own pinhole viewer or camera. All it takes is a couple of pieces of white card.

Use a pin to create a small hole in the centre of one of the pieces of card. Stand with your back to the eclipse and hold the perforated piece of card up so it gets the full force of the eclipse.

Then, use the second piece of card as a “screen” in front of you. The eclipse itself will be projected through the pinhole and onto the screen. The image will be inverted, but it will also be safe to look at.

Use rejigged binoculars

Do not look through the binoculars directly at the eclipse.

You can use binoculars in a method similar to the one described above to create a projected image of the eclipse on a piece of white card.

Face the large end of the binoculars towards the sun and cover one of the eyepieces. You can also use a piece of card to create a collar that fits around the body of the binoculars to enhance the effect.

The uncovered lens will project an image of the eclipse onto a second piece of card held about a foot away from it. You can use the focus wheel to adjust the image and, for the best result, attach your binoculars (a telescope works too) to a tripod.

Using binoculars will result in a sharper, clearer projection of the eclipse than using a card with a pinhole through it.

Use a mirror

A household mirror can also be used to view the eclipse. If you cover a small mirror with a piece of paper or card with a hole in it, it will project a pinhole image of the eclipse onto the far wall.

Make sure the hole is no wider than 5mm and you should be able to create a sharp image of the eclipse to project. Prop the mirror up and angle it so it catches the sunlight for you and you’re good to go.

Use a colander

It works in exactly the same way as the first sheet of card in the example above. The holes in the colander will project several images of the eclipse onto a piece of white card or paper held in front of you.

Make sure to stand with your back to the sun and hold the colander above your shoulder or next to your head.
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/solar-eclipse-2017-how-view-7488739.amp

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