NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, ESPECIALLY THROUGH A TELESCOPE, BINOCULARS OR A CAMERA WITHOUT PROTECTION.
THIS CAN RESULT IN INSTANT BLINDNESS.
THIS CAN RESULT IN INSTANT BLINDNESS.
On Friday, March the 20th, 2015, there will be a solar eclipse visible in Ireland. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon making it is easily the best eclipse visible in Ireland since 1999, and the next decent one wont be until 2080! So this is a very exciting, and pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime, event!
The eclipse will begin at 08.20, maximum will be at 09.24, and it will end at 10.32,* which makes it ideal for school groups wishing to observe this event. It might be nice to make pinhole projectors together in class on the Thursday, talk about what happens during an eclipse and make sure the students understand the safety aspects, then take the class outside together to view the eclipse on the Friday.
*Note: the above times are for Cork - you can check times for your location here.
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*Note: the above times are for Cork - you can check times for your location here.
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There are a number of ways to view this eclipse safely:
1) Projection
This is the easiest way to view a solar eclipse, and is an ideal way for school groups to all watch together.
The simplest projection that you can do is to poke a pinhole in a piece of card using a thumb tack or sewing needle, making sure the hole is as round and smooth as possible. Then hold it at arms length in front of a piece of paper. It will project a tiny image of the sun, which you can use to view the eclipse. The further away you hold the pinhole, the larger the image will be.
You can also cut out a square in your card and tape a piece of tin foil to it, then poke a hole in that.
Another variation is to get a large cardboard box, put a pin hole in one end, and a piece of white paper on the inside. This is then held over your head, with the pinhole facing the sun in order to project an image onto the paper.
This is the easiest way to view a solar eclipse, and is an ideal way for school groups to all watch together.
The simplest projection that you can do is to poke a pinhole in a piece of card using a thumb tack or sewing needle, making sure the hole is as round and smooth as possible. Then hold it at arms length in front of a piece of paper. It will project a tiny image of the sun, which you can use to view the eclipse. The further away you hold the pinhole, the larger the image will be.
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| Pinhole projection of the sun. |
You can also cut out a square in your card and tape a piece of tin foil to it, then poke a hole in that.
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| Tin foil taped to a piece of card, with a pinhole through which the sun is projected. |
Another variation is to get a large cardboard box, put a pin hole in one end, and a piece of white paper on the inside. This is then held over your head, with the pinhole facing the sun in order to project an image onto the paper.
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| Eclipse projection box. |
2) Eclipse Glasses
If you absolutely must look at the sun, the safest option is to get yourself a pair of eclipse viewing glasses. They are available online in many places, including First Light Optics, eclipseglasses.co.uk, and amazon.co.uk. These will unfortunately probably sell out quickly.
The current issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine also comes with a free pair of eclipse glasses, and is available at all good newsagents. They are the glasses that I will be using.
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| Through a pair of eclipse glasses, the sun is visible as an orange disc. |
The current issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine also comes with a free pair of eclipse glasses, and is available at all good newsagents. They are the glasses that I will be using.
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| BBC Sky at Night Magazine eclipse glasses. |
3) Filters
Anyone wishing to view the eclipse through a telescope or binoculars, or wanting to photograph it, will need to either buy or make a solar filter. First Light Optics have filters and filter paper for sale here.
Buying a ready made filter can be pricey though, so this year I've decided to make a filter for my camera using a Thousand Oaks solar filter sheet. I will hopefully be posting a tutorial for making a filter later in the week.
I have a filter for my telescope that I made using Baader AstroSolar safety film, and I've taken some nice shots with that (check them out here and here), but unfortunately I wont be able to drag my telescope out to my eclipse viewing spot, so some binos and the camera will have to do the job.
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The most important thing with this eclipse however, is to get out and enjoy it!
We live in a time when the angular size of the moon is the same as that of the sun, despite the distance between them, and this is what makes total solar eclipses possible. However, at present the moon is pulling away from the earth at a rate of about 3cm a year, and there will come a time in the future when total solar eclipses are an impossibility, so enjoy it while you can!
A solar eclipse is something that many people never get to see, and to have one on our home turf is very exciting!
Now if you could all cross your fingers for clear skies, that would be great!!
Anyone wishing to view the eclipse through a telescope or binoculars, or wanting to photograph it, will need to either buy or make a solar filter. First Light Optics have filters and filter paper for sale here.
Buying a ready made filter can be pricey though, so this year I've decided to make a filter for my camera using a Thousand Oaks solar filter sheet. I will hopefully be posting a tutorial for making a filter later in the week.
 |
| Thousand Oaks solar filter sheet - soon to be a solar filter for my camera. |
I have a filter for my telescope that I made using Baader AstroSolar safety film, and I've taken some nice shots with that (check them out here and here), but unfortunately I wont be able to drag my telescope out to my eclipse viewing spot, so some binos and the camera will have to do the job.
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The most important thing with this eclipse however, is to get out and enjoy it!
We live in a time when the angular size of the moon is the same as that of the sun, despite the distance between them, and this is what makes total solar eclipses possible. However, at present the moon is pulling away from the earth at a rate of about 3cm a year, and there will come a time in the future when total solar eclipses are an impossibility, so enjoy it while you can!
A solar eclipse is something that many people never get to see, and to have one on our home turf is very exciting!
Now if you could all cross your fingers for clear skies, that would be great!!
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