Hello, All!
Several years ago we were able to see a partial solar eclipse not
too far away from local noon. Knowing the principal, I asked him whether
he'd not like me to set up a viewing scheme for the grade school my
children attended. He agreed, and I covered all the south-facing windows
of a class-room (it was the music room) except for a pinhole in a piece
of aluminum foil over one pane of one window. I put a sheet of white
paper on a music stand some 6-8 metres away, and found a good-sized
projected image of the sun on the sheet. One could distinguish a few spots.
The children filed by slowly, all the time remaning somewhat
awed. From time to time I moved the stand to keep pace with the sun's
motion. It worked quite well.
One unexpected benefit, for me who became dark-adapted in the
unlighted room, was that this was, of course, a camera obscura. It was
great fun to be able to see birds on the telephone wire outside -- upside
down!
I recommend the technique as one that is simple and very
enjoyable. As I recall, the pinhole was only a couple of millimetres in
diameter.
John
