How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely

When you read, “How to view a solar eclipse safely”, you’ll probably think that you will need a cardboard box. Well, in this Instructable, you won’t need one!

Instead, you will need paper, and other simple materials you can find in your household. Simple materials for a simple craft!

A total solar eclipse would be cooler to look at, but really, any eclipse will work, partial or not. I will also add some tips and tricks to viewing eclipses. If you look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, you will damage the retinas at the back of your eyes. This could blind you permanently. That’s why it’s important to get proper protection!

Read on to find out how to view a solar eclipse safely!

-2 sheets of white paper

-A sheet of tinfoil

-A toothpick

-A pair of scissors

-A glue stick

-A window (one where the sun will shine though)

-A solar eclipse

First, set one piece of paper aside. Use the toothpick to poke a small hole in the second piece of paper, and from there use scissors to cut a square. Don't make the square too big, because the size of the hole changes ow much tinfoil you will need.

Cut a square of tinfoil a bit bigger than the hole you just cut in the paper. You can place the tinfoil over the hole in the paper as a guide. Next, after you have made sure that the tinfoil is the right size, put some glue around the perimeter of the hole. Gently place the square of tinfoil over the hole and press firmly into place. Then, poke a hole in the tinfoil over the part of the paper with the hole in it.

Then, take your two sheets of paper to a sunny window. Place the blank one (the one with no tinfoil or holes) on the ground. Make sure that the sun is shining onto the paper. Hold the paper with tinfoil over the first sheet. You should be able to see the eclipse through the hole shining onto the paper on the ground.

-After the eclipse is over, don’t throw out your papers! You can just reuse these if another solar eclipse happens.

-Remember that these are for solar eclipses only! You probably won’t be able to see anything during a lunar eclipse.

-NEVER look at the sun, even during an eclipse. You could still damage your eyes from doing so.

-You can also use special glasses to look at eclipses.

This is my Instructable on how to view a solar eclipse safely. Hopefully, you also learned some important tips so you won’t burn your retinas. Don’t forget to always wear protective glasses if you don’t want to use this project. Leave a like and a comment if you enjoyed this Instructable!