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Solar Eclipse Guide
St. Luke’s Middle School Science Chair Susan Bralower assembled a guide to the solar eclipse, viewable across the United States on Monday, August 21. While the path of totality (full solar eclipse) does not pass through our area, we will still experience a partial solar eclipse. Below is a guide to when and how to safely view the eclipse (information from the NASA Eclipse website).
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A Guide to the Solar Eclipse
What is It?
This celestial event is a solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location. For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds. The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979.
Who Can See It?
Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.
How do I Safely View the Eclipse?
The only way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers (see below). Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.
To properly view the eclipse:
This celestial event is a solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location. For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds. The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979.
Who Can See It?
Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.
How do I Safely View the Eclipse?
The only way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers (see below). Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.
To properly view the eclipse:
Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s),
Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.
If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is by making a simple pinhole viewer. See links below to make your own pinhole viewer.
Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s),
Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.
If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is by making a simple pinhole viewer. See links below to make your own pinhole viewer.
(Image credit: NASA)
When Can I view the Eclipse in Connecticut?
According to eclipse2017.org, Connecticut will experience an approximately 68 percent eclipse. The partial phases will start in our area at 1:25 pm Monday, according to both Yale University and Wesleyan University. It will then reach a maximum effacement of the sun's disk at 2:45 pm and end around at 4 pm.
According to eclipse2017.org, Connecticut will experience an approximately 68 percent eclipse. The partial phases will start in our area at 1:25 pm Monday, according to both Yale University and Wesleyan University. It will then reach a maximum effacement of the sun's disk at 2:45 pm and end around at 4 pm.
For additional information about the eclipse and how to make a pinhole viewer:
Make Magazine: How to make a pinhole viewer
http://makezine.com/2017/08/16/6-ways-view-solar-eclipse-without-losing-eyes-breaking-bank/
http://makezine.com/2017/08/16/6-ways-view-solar-eclipse-without-losing-eyes-breaking-bank/
Time and Date: How to make a pinhole viewer
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
