Solar eclipse viewer
Here's how to make a pinhole camera for safe solar eclipse viewing.
You know never to look at the sun directly—and that includes during an eclipse. Direct light from the sun can burn the cells in your eyes, causing blindness. But you can watch the eclipse by using special-purpose eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer that blocks the rays—like this one. (Don’t use ordinary sunglasses—they aren’t nearly strong enough!)
Supplies
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TIP: Use an empty cardboard cereal box.
STEP ONE
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Start by tracing one end of the box on the paper.
STEP TWO
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Cut out the shape you just traced.
STEP THREE
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Put the paper inside the box on the same end you just traced.
STEP FOUR
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Cut two square holes on the opposite end of the box—one on the left and one on the right.
STEP FIVE
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Tape up the middle to help everything stay together.
STEP SIX
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Cover one of the square holes completely with aluminum foil and tape it to the box.
STEP SEVEN
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Finally, take the push-pin and punch a very small hole in the center of the foil.
HOW IT WORKS
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To use your box pinhole projector, stand with your back to the sun. Then hold the large square hole up to your eye and move the box around until you see the sun projected on the paper through the pinprick in the foil.
Images and instructions courtesy of NASA