1. The Great American Solar Eclipse 2017
What is a solar eclipse?
What can we expect to see?
How can we view it safely?

2. This is going to be really cool! What causes a solar eclipse?
Every so often the alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon
causes the moon to cast a shadow somewhere on the Earth.
Find a light to look at. The light represents the sun. Your head represents the Earth. Now make a fist with your hand and slowly move it in between the light and your head. This creates a very basic model of a solar eclipse.

3. The following slides include IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED TO AVOID THE DANGER OF PERMANENTLY DAMAGING YOUR EYES!!!

4. - The only time it is safe to directly view the sun without eclipse glasses is during 100% totality of a total solar eclipse.
- Chattanooga will not experience a total solar eclipse. We will experience a partial solar eclipse. What does this mean?
- We will only see 99% totality. This means that while we will get to see
most of the same phenomena as in a total solar eclipse, at no time will
it be safe to directly view the sun without eclipse glasses!
- There is no time during a partial eclipse when it is safe to view the sun
directly.

5. The only time that it is ever safe to look directly at the sun is with adequate protection such as NASA approved eclipse glasses.
The following items are NOT adequate protection for your eyes:
DO NOT use these to look directly at the sun:
black trash bag
sun glasses
several pairs of sunglasses together
anything besides NASA approved eclipse glasses!

6. Which of these items are safe to use to look directly at the sun?

7. Which of these items are safe to use to look directly at the sun?
Only NASA approved Eclipse Glasses!!!!!
Only NASA approved Eclipse Glasses!!!!!

8. How do I find NASA approved eclipse glasses?
The following link is for the American Astronomical
Society’s page for reputable vendors:
For more eye safety info:

9. Now that I have my NASA approved eclipse glasses
and I can safely look directly at the sun…what can I
expect to see during the eclipse?

10. Diamond Ring - The diamond-ring effect occurs at the beginning and end of totality during a total solar eclipse. As the last bits of sunlight pass through the valleys on the moon's surface, and the faint corona around the sun is just becoming visible, it looks like a ring with glittering diamonds on it.

11. Baily’s Beads – As the moon moves past the sun, the rugged surface of the moon allows light to pass through in some places and not in others.

12. Sun’s Corona –This is the one phenomena that you will only be able to see if you are able to travel to a location that will receive 100% totality. The sun’s corona is an aura of plasma (superheated gas) that surrounds stars such as the sun. It extends millions of kilometers into space.

13. What if I don’t have NASA approved eclipse glasses
What if I don’t have NASA approved eclipse glasses? How can I still experience the eclipse?

14. What if I don’t have a pair of eclipse glasses?
- If you do not have eclipse glasses, there are many ways to view the
eclipse indirectly by projecting the image of the sun onto another
surface that is safe to look at.
- One simple way to do this is to make a pin hole viewer. Another is to
use a colander.
- IT IS IMPORTANT to note that indirect viewers mean you are looking
at a projected image, not directly at the sun.
- You should NOT look directly at the sun with indirect viewers!!

15. Directions for making and using a pin-hole viewer:
Materials:
- Two sheets of white paper
- A pen or mechanical pencil
- flashlight
Directions:
1.) In the middle of one of the sheets of paper poke a small hole with the pen or mechanical pencil.
2.) Place the other sheet (without the hole) on the ground.
3.) Hold the second sheet with the hole in it above the sheet on the ground. An image of the sun will be projected through the hole and onto the paper located on the ground.
4.) Use a flashlight to model the sun as you practice how to use the pin-hole viewer prior the actual eclipse.

16. Other links for making indirect viewers
Build a sun funnel:
Pinhole Projector:
Cardboard Box:
Box Pinhole Projector:
Other ideas:

17. What other observations might we experience?
- the sky will get dark and stars will appear
- the air temperature will cool
- nocturnal animals will become active

18. Resources
The Path and the Phases

19. Resources https://youtu.be/7ppXuCJOlxM Important safety note!
In this video he suggests taking off your eclipse glasses during totality.
Chattanooga will NOT be at 100% totality.
If you are viewing the eclipse in Chattanooga or anywhere outside of the zone of totality it is NOT safe to take your eclipse glasses off at any point!