Eclipse Dapples :: WTF is a "dapple"?

For those of you in the US who will be able to view today's eclipse - even if you're not in the path of totality - be sure to check out the ground below any nearby trees. The bits of sunlight that get through the tree's shade will create what are called "dapples", which are the spots of sunlight that fall on the ground below. Like this:

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Technically, the word dapple simply means "spotted". So it's just one of the spots of sunlight.

Just like the paper pinhole trick or the shoe box trick, when there's an eclipse occurring, the dapples project it onto the ground, or whatever surface is beyond the tree. Like so:

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So even if you don't have glasses to view it directly, that's okay! Find a tree and you'll be good to go!

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