Solar Stations Presented By MUSEUM of the MOUNTAIN MAN 9:00AM - 5:00PM May 1 - October 31 Fremont Lake Road Pinedale, WY
List of Activities Station #1: Plate and Coin Demonstrate how the sun and moon appear the same size during a solar eclipse. If you ve ever seen a picture of a solar eclipse, you may have noticed that the Moon comes very close to covering the entire Sun. Use a coin and a plate to investigate why the Sun and Moon look like they re the same size, though the Sun is much bigger. Station #2: Phases of the Moon Allow participants to visualize and better understand the cause of moon phases. Various sections of the moon are lit up or in shadow each month. This is based on where the moon is in relation to the Earth and Sun. The New Moon occurs when the moon is directly between Earth and the Sun and is the only time when a total solar eclipse can occur. Participants will replace the Earth in this 3 dimensional model in order to better visualize these changes. Page 1 of 4
List of Activities Station #3: How Planets Orbit the Sun Allow participants to visualize and better understand the mechanisms of a planet orbiting the sun. The Earth rotates as it revolves around the sun. One full rotation of the Earth takes 24 hours (1 day) and causes day and night. One revolution of the Earth around the Sun takes 365 days (1 year) and causes the seasons. This is a hands on demonstration. Station #4: Tracing Shadows Connect this activity to the idea of the moon s shadow falling on the Earth during a solar eclipse. When an object passes in front of the Sun a shadow is created. Big objects make bit shadows, and small objects make small shadows. The Moon s shadow passes across the Earth during a total solar eclipse. Participants will have the opportunity to trace shadows made by various objects. Participants may keep their tracings. Page 2 of 4
List of Activities Station #5: Orbits Teach participants how the Moon orbits the Earth while the Earth orbits the Sun. Participants will make a moving model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Station #6: Pinhole Projection Create a simple tool to see the total solar eclipse without looking directly at the sun. Participants will make and learn how to use a pinhole projector. This device allows the user to look at a projection of the sun instead of directly at the sun. (Looking directly at the sun will cause permanent eye damage.) Page 3 of 4
List of Activities Station #7: Eclipse Crosswords Learn solar eclipse vocabulary by doing crossword puzzles. Each participant will be encouraged to complete the crossword puzzle associated with her/his age. Page 4 of 4
All About the Eclipse This is a reference and guide for Solar Science Station leaders. The included information and resources will help leaders better understand the eclipse so they can provide participants with a fun and educational experience. The Great American Eclipse WHEN: August 21, 2017 WHERE: The line of totality is just north of Pinedale. For an interactive map, visit: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/tse_2017_googlemapfull.html POTENTIAL PINEDALE EVENTS: Friday August 18, 2017 Speaker/demonstrator during the day at the Museum of the Mountain Man. Saturday August 19, 2017 Solar eclipse event in the American Legion Park. The Museum will be hosting a number of Solar Science Stations for visitors. Other Pinedale organizations will host booths as well. http://www.sublettechamber.com/2017 total solar eclipse PFAC will host one of their summer concerts that evening. Monday August 21, 2017 Total solar eclipse! Partial phase starts around 10:15am MST. Total starts around 11:30am MST. http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/communities/states/wy/jackson_1878.htm http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/communities/states/wy/bondurant_1847.htm All About the Eclipse Page 1 of 4
All About the Eclipse An Eclipse An eclipse happens when a planet or a moon gets in the way of the Sun s light. Here on Earth, we can experience two kinds of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. What s the difference? The moon is covering up the sun in the middle of the day. This total solar eclipse was visible from the northern tip of Australia on November 13, 2012. The moon appears orange red in a total lunar eclipse on October 27, 2004. Solar Eclipse A solar eclipse happens when the Moon gets in the way of the Sun s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the Sun and it gets dark. Isn t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day? This total eclipse happens about every year and a half somewhere on Earth. A partial eclipse, when the Moon doesn t completely cover the Sun, happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth. But not everyone experiences every solar eclipse. Getting a chance to see a total solar eclipse is rare. The Moon s shadow on Earth isn t very big, so only a small portion of places on Earth will see it. You have to be on the sunny side of the planet when it happens. You also have to be in the path of the moon s shadow. On average, the same spot on Earth only gets to see a solar eclipse for a few minutes about every 375 years! Note: This diagram is not to scale. All About the Eclipse Page 2 of 4
All About the Eclipse Lunar Eclipse During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets in the way of the Sun s light hitting the moon. That means that during the night, a full moon fades away as Earth s shadow covers it up. The Moon can also look reddish because Earth s atmosphere absorbs the other colors while it bends some sunlight toward the moon. Sunlight bending through the atmosphere and absorbing other colors is also why sunsets are orange and red. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is shining from all the sunrises and sunsets occurring on Earth! Note: This diagram is not to scale. Why Not a Lunar Eclipse Every Month? You might be wondering why we don t have a lunar eclipse every month as the Moon orbits Earth. It s true that the Moon goes around Earth every month, but it doesn t always get in Earth s shadow. The Moon s path around Earth is tilted compared to Earth s orbit around the sun. The Moon can be behind Earth but still get hit by light from the sun. In this diagram, you can see that the moon s orbit around the sun is at a tilt. This is why we don t get a lunar eclipse every month. Note: This diagram is not to scale: the moon is much farther away from Earth than shown here. All About the Eclipse Page 3 of 4
All About the Eclipse Remembering the Difference It s easy to get these two types of eclipses mixed up. An easy way to remember the difference is in the name. The name tells you what gets darker when the eclipse happens. In a solar eclipse, the Sun gets darker. In a lunar eclipse, the Moon gets darker. Eye Safety During a Solar Eclipse The best option for viewing a solar eclipse is to use a pair of eclipse glasses (for sale at numerous Pinedale businesses, including the Museum of the Mountain Man). Never view the sun with the naked eye or by looking through optical devices such as binoculars or telescopes! This is critical! Why? You may have taken a magnifying glass out into the sun and burned leaves with it. If so, you ll remember that when sunlight is focused onto a small spot with a lens, it gets hot enough to start a fire. So understand this: you have a lens just like that in your eye. If you look at the sun, your eye s lens will concentrate the sun's light and focus it onto a very small spot on the back of your eye, on the retina. This literally burns your eye, causing permanent eye damage or blindness. In additional, there are no pain sensors inside your eye so you won't even know it's happening! During a total solar eclipse, there are a few short moments when it s safe to look directly at the sun. This is the ONLY time: when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun. Called totality, it lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. The instant the moon begins to move off the sun's face, you must go back to using safe viewing techniques. For more information visit: https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how to view eclipse https://www.nasa.gov/content/eye safety during a total solar eclipse/ http://www.eclipse2017.org/eclipse2017_eye%20safety.htm Additional Resources Check out the Total Solar Eclipse exhibit at the Museum of the Mountain Man! Other online resources: http://www.eclipse2017.org/eclipse2017_main.htm https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjgxaqw3md8 https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5 8/features/nasa knows/what is an eclipse 58/ All About the Eclipse Page 4 of 4