With a shortage of solar eclipse glasses, it may be that you are worrying about safe ways to follow Monday’s big event. However, according to this video from NASA, there are lots of ways to indirectly view the progress of the moon across the sun without harming your eyes.
Before you consider them, remember that looking directly at the sun during a partial solar eclipse can cause permanent eye damage or blindness. Since there are no pain receptors in the retina, it can happen without the victim feeling any pain. Do not use sunglasses—even three pairs on top of each other. Solar eclipse glasses block 99% of visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. Sunglasses do not.
It’s crucial to use a safe method to view the eclipse, so if you don’t have eclipse glasses, try one of these simple and safe alternatives:
1. DIY Pinhole Viewer
One of the most popular ways to view a solar eclipse is by using a pinhole viewer. You can easily create one at home with just a few simple supplies. All you need is a cardboard box, scissors, aluminum foil, tape, and a pin or needle.
First, cut a square hole in one end of the box. Cover the hole with aluminum foil and use the pin to poke a small hole in the center of the foil. Then, tape a white piece of paper inside the box opposite the hole. To use the viewer, stand facing away from the sun and place the box over your head with the pinhole facing the sun. You will see a small image of the sun projected onto the paper inside the box. NASA’s How to Make a Box Pinhole Projector video on YouTube explains this method in-depth.
2. Use Your Hands and Fingers
Another easy way to view the eclipse is to use your hands and fingers. Simply stand with your back to the sun and hold your hands out in front of you. Cross your fingers over each other and create small spaces between them. The spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images of the sun showing the sun’s crescent shape during the eclipse.
3. Find A Colander, Spaghetti Spoon Or Hole-Punch
If you have a colander or a spaghetti in your kitchen, you can use it to create a much simpler pinhole viewer. Hold the colander up to the sun and it will project dozens of images of the crescent sun on to whatever is below it. It’s the well-defined holes that create the pattern on the ground, on surfaces—such as white paper or cardboard— or even on each other. A hole-punched piece of paper works just as well.
4. Stand Near A Tree
You can also use the leaves of a tree to create a natural pinhole viewer. Stand under a tree—one with leaves on—and look at the ground. The tiny spaces between the leaves will project a pattern of small images of the sun on the ground. You can also use a piece of paper or cardboard to capture them.
If you do find solar eclipse glasses at the last minute, check that they are undamaged and are ISO-certified. Ideally, the company or brand printed on them should be on the American Astronomical Society’s vetted list of suppliers and resellers, which NASA recommends.
For the latest on all aspects of April 8’s total solar eclipse in North America, check my main feed for new articles each day.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
