Solar Eclipse
We all have heard about the solar eclipse but it would be fascinating to know more about it. It is basically a natural occasion that takes place on Planet Earth. The solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes the sun. It passes in front which causes a shadow. The shadow falls on certain parts of the Earth. The eclipse cannot be viewed at every place in Earth. The shadow would fall on some locations only. There are three types of solar eclipses – Partial, Total and Annular. It is advisable not to look at a solar eclipse because it can have harmful effects for the eyes. If you do not know much about the solar eclipse, we would recommend you to read all the facts.
- It is a rare event and happens only in 1-2 years.
- The longest eclipse would last for about 7.5 minutes.
- You would be worried about your dog barking and behaving strange. During the eclipse, the animals behave strange.
- Eclipse is a Greek word. It means abandonment.
- Total eclipse happens when the moon covers the sun completely.
- Annular eclipse is when the sun is behind the moon but the moon looks smaller.
- Partial eclipse is when the moon does not come between the Earth and the Sun. It does not cover the sun completely.
- Looking at the sun during an eclipse is dangerous. It could cause harm to the human eyes. You must have heard your mom telling you to never look at the eclipse because it is harmful for your eyes.
The Solar Eclipse is a rare event and it happens in few locations. It was in July, 2009 when the longest total eclipse occurred. It lasted for 6 minutes and 39 seconds. It would be wise to view it with a telescope. You would need a solar filter for the telescope to avoid any damage to the eyes. Let’s see when we get to see the solar eclipse! When it is time for solar eclipse, it is shown on news channels and the world gets ready for viewing the rare event.
How to View a Solar Eclipse?
The whole world rushes back home to view the solar eclipse on the television. Well, it is a rare event and so, you must witness it because it is historic. However, your mom tells you not to run up to the terrace and view the solar eclipse because it could cause damage to your eyes. It is true! Viewing the solar eclipse directly could cause severe damage to your precious eyes. Viewing the sun directly could also be painful for your head. Have you tried looking at the sun directly? It causes pain in the head. It is because the rays are so strong!
Do not be disheartened because you can look at the solar eclipse through various ways. We have listed some of the ways in this article because we want you to enjoy looking at the sun or the rare solar eclipse.
There are solar viewing glasses available in stores which can help you watch the solar eclipse. Do not use a camera filter, compact disc or smoked glass because they can cause as much damage to your eyes. People use filters which would be as harmful as watching it directly with your eyes.
You can build a pinhole viewer for your kids. Here is a video which shows you the way to make a pinhole viewer with a cereal box. If you do not wish to spend money on an object from the market, you could make a pinhole viewer at home.
You would just need a white paper and pin to make the pinhole viewer. You can also make it with cereal or cardboard boxes. It would be much fancier!
There are eclipse viewing glasses available. These are not the usual sunglasses. They are especially made for viewing the solar eclipse. There are manufacturers of these glasses and you can find them easily online or the store near you.
What do people love about the solar eclipse? It is a rare event when the moon comes in front of the Sun and the shade falls on some parts of the planet. It is an event which cannot be missed. Most families view the eclipse together and it is a monumental event. The sun is special and the light is so bright that it is hard for the human eyes to see it directly. Everything is special about the solar eclipse! We read about it in books and we see it on National Geographic and Discovery but nothing beats personal experience.
Parents should be careful about their kids watching the sun directly and the solar eclipse is no different. Using proper eye protection is necessary for safe viewing. If you do not have the gear, watch it on your television. Keep your eyes safe from damage!