How and where to watch the full solar eclipse on July 22nd, 2009

Everybody knows you can’t just stare at the sun. Well, if you didn’t know that you do now. Do not stare at the sun. Repeat after me, do not stare at the sun.

Still, lots of folk will be looking to the heavens on July 22nd to watch the full solar eclipse. I remember doing this some 30+ years ago…okay make that almost 40 years ago. We had these thick glasses to filter out the sun and only the moon was left.

There’s another way to watch the eclipse. From how stuff works/science.

1. Get two pieces of cardboard (flaps from a box, backs of paper tablets).
2. With a pin or pencil point, poke a small hole in the center of one piece (no bigger than the pin or pencil point).
3. Take both pieces in your hand.
4. Stand with your back to the sun.
5. In one hand, hold the piece with the pinhole; place the other piece (the screen) behind it.
6. The sunlight will pass through the pinhole and form an image on the screen (see How does a pinhole camera work?
7. Adjust the distance between the two pieces to focus and change the size of the image.

Or you can go to one of these

4 places to watch the July 22nd full solar eclipse online

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