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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-ZA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>For safe viewing of the eclipse:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DO NOT look through binoculars, telescope, camera, or anything that magnifies the Sun – you will blind yourself. Unless (see below) the telescope is set up by an experienced astronomer, familiar with safe solar viewing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For direct Sun viewing, you need eye protection – best is eclipse viewers, but if you don’t have those then take a brief (few seconds) look through either a double layer of Five Roses teabag foil, or three to four layers of foil “space blanket” (available from pharmacies, used by first-aiders).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For indirect Sun viewing, by far the coolest is to look for pinhole-projected images of the Sun in the “speckles of light” under a tree. Details and photos at <a href="http://www.moonshadowmix.co.za">www.moonshadowmix.co.za</a> . For this eclipse, the Sun will be very low in the sky. So take a sheet of white paper, put it on a piece of board to hold it straight, and hold it under the tree at an angle, so the Sun shines directly onto it (sunlight shining perpendicular to the paper). Best trees are ones with roundish (rather than needle-shaped) leaves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Telescope / binocular viewing or projection.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>This should only be done by skilled, experienced astronomers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Telescopes should be equipped with solar filters AT THE OBJECTIVE (large) end. Some cheap telescopes are sold with (cheap) “solar filters” that fit in the eyepiece. Here, they gather concentrated heat and can crack, letting through unfiltered sunlight that will blind the viewer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Filters should be very firmly attached. Finder scopes should be removed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sun projection onto a screen with binoculars or a telescope:<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>It must be physically impossible for anyone (including tiny children) to get their eye at the eyepiece. Put a barrier around the device – I’ve used a cone of chicken wire between the eyepiece and the screen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It must be constantly and vigilantly supervised.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Additional safety precautions that come to mind from years of dealing with kids & the public:<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>* watch out for people bringing binoculars or their own telescopes – remove these;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* watch out for people photographing the Sun – don’t let them look through the viewfinder. It’s possible (though I haven’t seen it) that you damage your camera photographing the Sun – put eclipse viewer in front of the camera lens, and aim it while looking at the screen (not through the viewfinder). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Eclipse-viewing Events<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>The couple that I know of are:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* Louis Trichardt – Soutpansberg Astronomy Club<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* Krugersdorp / West Rand – West Rand Astronomy Club<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* KZN – Mtunzini<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* Hermanus - Hermanus Astronomy Centre <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Details of the first three venues at <a href="http://www.moonshadowmix.co.za/Eclipse2015/Eclipse2015.shtml#PublicViewing">http://www.moonshadowmix.co.za/Eclipse2015/Eclipse2015.shtml#PublicViewing</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>And, South African astrophotographers are planning to contribute to the Slooh Community Telescope (on-line) telescope - <a href="http://main.slooh.com/">http://main.slooh.com/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>Enjoy the eclipse!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>Claire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>Moonshadow Mix<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>PO Box 731688<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>FAIRLAND 2030<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>076-744-4735<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.moonshadowmix.co.za"><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'>www.moonshadowmix.co.za</span></a><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><a href="mailto:claireflan55@gmail.com">claireflan55@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-ZA'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>