Lesson 1 Page 1
Discover: Solar Viewer
The simplest way to study the sky is to look up and keep track of what you see. In fact, for hundreds of years this is how early civilizations learned about the movements of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars.
However, when studying the Sun, we now know that we must be much more cautious. The Sun is extremely bright and looking directly at the Sun can cause severe damage to your eyes. The lens in your eye acts like a magnifying glass that focuses the light directly on the back of your eye (retina).
NEVER look directly at the Sun with your eyes or through binoculars or a telescope.
The only safe way to view the Sun is using a special solar filter on glasses or on a telescope.
You can also build a simple solar viewer at home to watch solar changes such as solar eclipses or sunspots.
Video
Look for reasons why scientists view the Sun.
Finally, consider what would happen to the Earth and other planets if the Sun went dark or disappeared.
Viewing the Sun Safely Video
Notebook: How can I observe the Sun safely?
Complete the activity and save to your Sky Science Notebook.