Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is an amazing thing to behold and it occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. We usually have about two solar eclipses a year and they always occur at the new moon phase of the moons orbit. A solar eclipse is very brief and may not last more than a few minutes. According tom NASA it is safe to view a total solar eclipse with the naked eye only during the brief moments when the sun is completely blacked out. All other moments and events must be viewed with special glasses or filters or through the lens of a telescope. NASA recommends using a pinhole or small opening top project the image from the sun onto another surface or using special filters that are like the composition of a number 14 welder's glass. Even better would be to go your nearest planetarium or science center to view this spectacular event. There is even a website called Solar Eclipse Sun Protection which offers special products and glasses to meet your needs. A lot has been written and thought about solar eclipses over the years. Some of the early people saw these events as punishment from the gods as punishment that they were unhappy with the way that people were behaving. Others, particularly during the Middle Ages used the opportunity to blame women for being witches who caused such evil to befall all men, and they would round up all unmarried women in the community and stone or burn them to death. Today we recognize solar eclipses as just another normal part of nature and science helps us to understand and appreciate them even more. There are solar eclipse societies and solar eclipse parties every time one is forecast. All of the keenest scientists end up in the middle of deepest Africa, along with the rich and famous curiosity seekers, to get the best spot to view the latest event. You don't have to go that far to experience the strange beauty of a solar eclipse. Just go the highest point in your neighborhood, wear protective eyewear and sit back to enjoy nature, the greatest show on earth or above.

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