I made one of those solar eclipse pinhole projectors in the fifth grade, but I just don’t remember much of it at all. Other than that, I can’t remember experiencing an eclipse, ever, and have therefore decided to take part in the rest of the eclipses this year.

(I know they say you could damage your eyes—and even go blind!—if you fully stare at the sun, and I get it; but I do wonder if anyone simply doesn’t know that and has damaged their eyes due to that lack of knowledge? It seems like one of those things they should tell you as soon as your kid is born (along with not giving the little tyke honey until after his first birthday) just to make sure you pass along the info, right?)

Since I don’t know much about eclipses in general, I plan on reading up before each one occurs and participating in fitting ways (for example, making the pinhole projector above). I also plan on doing some fun, specific activities during each eclipse.

Unfortunately we’ve already missed the Annular Solar Eclipse on January 15, but we still have three more opportunities! They are as follows:

June 26, 2010: Partial Lunar Eclipse

Suggested activities: Hold a moon ritual. Even if you’re not all pagan-y like my family, you can still have some fun reading moon books (like Goodnight Moon, Papa Get the Moon for Me, and I Love the Night) and having an all-white (potatoes, rice, marshmallows, whatever you like!) dinner to celebrate the moon.

July 11, 2010: Total Solar Eclipse

Suggested Activities: Aside from making the viewer, at Stanford’s Solar Center you can view videos, images, and other information about past solar eclipses. There are also some demonstrations, lesson plans, and other activities.

December 21, 2010: Total Lunar Eclipse

Suggested Activities: There are a bunch of activities for Total Lunar Eclipses! This site has some great ideas for Oreo cookies, making models of the moon’s surface, creating a satellite tracking bowl, and more.

For complete time estimations, click here. We can even look up the projected paths on Google maps now (there’s a link from the same site with time estimations)!

Of course, for any of these occurrences you could make a solar system and read books about the planets, sun, and moon with your family. If you don’t have kids, try having a faux-cult party where everyone has to bring a moon (or sun) dish, dress as a moon or sun child, and “be ready” for the big eclipse. Serving purple kool-aid is optional, though if you choose to do so, be sure to skip the poison.