Excitement is definitely building about the upcoming total solar eclipse, and that’s certainly true in my house as well! The path of totality crosses through North America, and most parts of North America outside the path of totality will still see a partial eclipse. It is so cool to see nature at work, and it helps us feel connected to the world and the universe around us.

Whether it’s a partial or total eclipse, it’s important to be prepared so we can safely take a look and experience it. The best ways are with safe eclipse glasses, or an indirect viewer, such as a pinhole camera. There is a list of reputable companies for glasses on the American Astronomical Society Website. https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters. Beware of counterfeit glasses. It’s not worth the risk.

Some Cool Things to Look Out For

We’re all familiar with the image of the moon taking a bite out of the sun, but there are more things to notice, especially during totality. Here are some of them.

• Solar eclipses can only happen during a new moon, because the moon and sun are on the same side of the Earth.
• Look at the way light is filtered through the leaves of trees. You will see projections of the eclipse in the shadows on the ground.
• It will get darker during the eclipse. The more of the sun that is blocked in your area, the darker it will get. During totality it will be like twilight, and you may even see stars!
• It will also get cooler – even as much as a 10-degree drop in temperature!
• You may be able to see a 360-degree sunset around the horizon. There will be sunset colors in the sky in every direction.
• The moon will approach the sun from the west, meaning it will look darker in the west first. This is the opposite of what happens during sunset.
• Shadow bands may appear on light-colored surfaces, kind of like looking at the bottom of a swimming pool through the rippling water. This is possibly due to distortion from the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Totality is a chance to see the sun’s corona. Usually the sun is too bright to be able to see it, but when the moon is covering up that brightness, the light from the corona will be visible and safe to view with the naked eye. Just be sure to put eclipse glasses back on before totality ends!

Safety First!

When you spend a good chunk of the day looking at the sun, remember, you are still looking at the sun. Even a little peek of direct sunlight can damage the eyes. That’s why it’s important to take the proper precautions. It is also important to make sure kids understand because it can be so tempting to just take a quick look.

• Never look directly at the sun without eclipse glasses, except during totality. It may cause permanent eye injury.
• Don’t look at the eclipse through a camera or binoculars without an appropriate solar filter.
• Put on and take off your eclipse glasses while not facing toward the sun.

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A fun idea is to have a pinhole camera available for an indirect viewing method. There are plenty of tutorials online on how to make these with a cereal box, or even a Pringles can. It was a good excuse for us to stock up on Pringles! An empty 12-pack soda can box works well too. This is a great project to make with kids, and they will love using their creation. The longer the box or tube, the bigger the projected image. Making the hole bigger doesn’t help and can cause it to fail. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way in 2017! Here is a tutorial that explains it well. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/

On a Practical Note

It’s always good to be prepared. If you are eclipse-gazing, you’re planning to spend several hours outside on a sunny day (fingers crossed!). That means hats, sunscreen, etc. Be sure to dress for the weather, and be prepared as far as snacks and activities for your group. Eclipse-related art activities can help keep the kids engaged, as well as the big kids. I’m even planning to bring my sketchbook and pastels. Here’s an activity we did last time when my kids were preschoolers. You just need sidewalk chalk, a jar lid, and some rubbing.

Whatever your plans for the eclipse, I hope it is a special and memorable experience for you and the ones you share it with.