If you don't yet have solar glasses to view the total solar eclipse on April 8, don't worry. The good folks at NASA have an easy way to view the solar eclipse by making a box pinhole projector using common items found around the house. You don't need a degree in rocket science.
Monday's rare total solar eclipse is expected to trace a 115-mile-wide path across parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Millions of people are expected to flock to the Path of Perfection to catch a glimpse of this once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Get ready:There are only a few days left until the total solar eclipse.Here's everything you need to know
Experts are warning eclipse viewers to be careful as it is never safe to look directly at the sun. Doing so can cause permanent damage to your vision. Special safety glasses must be worn when viewing a solar eclipse, except for the moment during totality when the moon completely blocks the sun's rays.
To protect your eyesight, we'll show you how to make a box pinhole projector using common household items.
Step 1 To create a box pinhole projector, gather the following items
To create a box pinhole project, gather the following items:
- Cardboard box (you can use a cereal box, shoe box, or Amazon box)
- scissors
- Aluminum foil
- pencil
- push pin
- tape
- White paper (make sure it is large enough to cover one end of the box)
Step 2, Creating a pinhole projector
Follow these steps to create a box pinhole projector.
- Use a pencil to trace one edge of the box onto the white paper. Next, cut out the shape. The paper shape you cut out should fit perfectly inside the box.
- Next, drill two square holes in opposite ends of the box (one on the right side and one on the left side). If you're using a cereal box, tape it down the center to keep it from falling apart.
- Completely cover one of the square holes with aluminum foil. Use tape to keep foil in place.
- Carefully poke a small hole in the center of the aluminum foil using a push pin. This is the hole where sunlight enters. The large square hole you created will be the place to look into the box.
- congratulations. Has completed.
Step 3: Observe the solar eclipse using a pinhole projector
To use a box pinhole projector, stand with your back to the sun, place the large square hole over your eyes, and move the box until the sunlight enters the small hole in the aluminum foil. You should soon see the sun projected onto the white paper inside the box.
Additional ways to view the solar eclipse can be found courtesy of NASA or by visiting exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how-to-view-eclipse.
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John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him news tips to JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on X @JTuftsReports.