Here
are listed several innovative ways of looking and enjoying, and being
in the moon's shadow while looking at the sun. Try making some of these.
If you have any more ideas, let us know and we shall display them on
these pages.
Fun sun filters
The solar filter can be used in interesting ways. Paint the image of
a happy sun (or a moon depending on whichever you like) on a piece of
cardboard. Cut the cardboard in the shape of the sun. Make holes for
eyes, the nose and the mouth. Stick the solar filter from behind to
cover the holes for the eyes. This then becomes a playful solar viewer
and you'll begin to get identified as an eclipse-fan, possibly on your
way to eclipse-chasing into the future.
Using
your fingers
The simplest pinhole camera to construct would be if you crisscrossed
your fingers at right angles, held the crisscrossed palms against the
sunlight and then looked at its shadow on the ground. You will notice
images of the sun formed all over the ground.
Look under a tree
If you have a tree with lots of leaves where you are located, try finding
images of the sun formed all over the ground where the tree has cast
its shade. You will notice thousands of crescents, as if in play, across
the ground. These crescents have been formed by the sunlight coming
through the holes or the gaps formed by the leaves on the tree.
A
jute mat or a knitted shawl
If you have a piece of cloth or mat (enmeshed in jute, bamboo, etc.)
that have tiny holes between the enmeshing, these could act as wonderful
pin hole cameras. Hold the shawl against the sunlight and then look
at the images of the sun formed on the ground.
Wearing
a straw hat
If you can manage a straw hat that has a wide rim, then wear it and
sit with your back to the sun. Undoubtedly, a fun thing for the kids
to do. As you wear the hat, images of the sun will form through the
holes in the hat's weaving and fall on the ground along with your own
shadow. You could even watch the progress of the eclipse through these
images.
An umbrella reflector
Get
reflective stickers (a number of them) and stick them on the inside
of an umbrella. Point the umbrella, the reverse side up, at the sun
such that the reflection of the sun falls on a flat surface like a wall
of a building or a fence. You will see hundreds of sun-images. For the
sheer fun of it, paint the outside of the umbrella with bright images
of the sun and the moon.
Participate
in designing a device for the safe viewing of the solar eclipse. The
best of these designs will be honored with 'Crescent on the Sun Award'
on the 10th of August, one day before the day of the total eclipse.
For
details, look up design a solar viewer
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