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What To Do

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August Eclipse in the Smokies

Some of you might have heard by now that we’re having a partial eclipse coming up late this Summer on August 21st, for 2017. And if you haven’t heard by now, we’re happy to be ones to inform you!

As a matter of fact, the partial eclipse will be visible through a swath of areas almost as wide as the country itself and our side ends right here on the Smoky Mountains. The good news is that it ends on OUR side of the mountains, so the National Park Service is already getting several places prepped for viewers to congregate together and see it in action.

* Clingman’s Dome
* Cades Cove
* Oconaluftee

See more information on the viewing and tickets.

You can also build a simple card projector using these instructions.

DIY: Simple Card Projector
The simplest and quickest way to safely project the Sun is with a projector made from only 2 pieces of card or paper.

You Need:
* 2 pieces of stiff white cardboard, e.g. 2 paper plates
alternatively, 2 sheets of plain white paper
* a thumbtack, a sharp pin or a needle.

What to Do:
Diagram of a DIY pinhole projector.
The concept of a pinhole projector ©timeanddate.com

To make a quick version of the pinhole projector, take a sheet of paper and make a tiny hole in the middle of it using a pin or a thumbtack. Make sure that the hole is round and smooth.

With your back towards the Sun, hold 1 piece of paper above your shoulder allowing the Sun to shine on the paper.

The 2nd sheet of paper will act as a screen. Hold it at a distance, and you will see an inverted image of the Sun projected on the paper screen through the pinhole.

To make the image of the Sun larger, hold the screen paper further away from the paper with the pinhole.

A box projector works on the same principles, it requires a little more time and a few extra items to construct, but it is more sturdy.

Keep Safe! Never look at the Sun directly without protective eye gear. Even sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from the damage the Sun’s rays can do to them.”

We’re looking forward to it and we hope you get to see it with us here at Summit Cabin Rentals!