Make your own pinhole viewer for the eclipse.

[Solly Mack]

YOU'VE SURELY HEARD by now that the moon will pass between Earth and the sun on August 21, creating a total solar eclipse that will cast a shadow over much of the US. Jimmy Carter was president the last time this happened, so you definitely don't want to miss it.
The best way to observe this astronomical event is to be somewhere in the path of totality that will experience total darkness in the middle of the day. If you can't do this, you have two other options: Buy a pair of solar glasses or make a pinhole.

That's what I'm doing. Cheap, easy, and it works. Learned how a long, long time ago in grade school science.

You can do a search for better instructions. It doesn't take a lot of time.

And you don't have to worry about the quality/safety of the event glasses you've purchased.

You can also use a mirror.

EDIT to ADD: As eppur_se_muova so rightly pointed out, this statement isn't a safe suggestion without more instructions. You use the mirror as a reflector back onto something solid like a white wall, a concrete drive, a projector screen. You can search for more ways to use a mirror. I am sorry because I could have caused someone damage.

If you can't find glasses, you might consider a DIY pinhole viewer. All you really need is a shoe box, or any small to medium sized box, tape, a needle/small nail, tin foil, scissors or xacto knife, white paper, and some patience.


Here's a link from NASA

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/how-make-solar-eclipse-sun-viewer


Another

https://www.livescience.com/33906-solar-eclipse-viewer.html


There's still time to make one.

Because...Science!

[Ex Lurker]

1. You can also use a sheet of cardboard with a pinhole and a basin of water

Easy Peasy.

[Solly Mack]

3. Yep! Another easy way.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Even easier: Use a colander.

This kind:

[Solly Mack]

4. Yes! Instant pinhole!

[pamela]

18. But you might strain your eyes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. Hiss. Boo.

[Solly Mack]

20. lololololol

[Blue_Roses]

22. lol...

[montana_hazeleyes]

33. HeeHee!

[Warren DeMontague]

52. Ouch

Which reminds me, RIP Pinboy

[C Moon]

55. Woo hoo!!! :D

[livetohike]

57. Good one!

:laughing;

[defacto7]

21. But how would you know which eclipse is the real one?

I like using a cracker that has holes, but I still have the same problem.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

26. Comedians...

[C Moon]

37. Thanks! I'll mark my colander. :)

[SergeStorms]

45. Ooooh.......

that one strained my sense of humor.

[C Moon]

54. :D

Maybe it's pasta your bedtime.

[lostnfound]

60. Reflective one might be risky but I have a white plastic one that will be handy so thanks for tip.

Some kid carrying it around is liable to pick up the reflection on the metal pretty easily, rather than the pinpoint of light passing through to ground

[BigmanPigman]

5. You can also use this for a pinhole camera.

I made one in High School Photo class with cylindrical oatmeal box. You paint it black inside and put photo paper on the side opposite the hole and place it somewhere and let it stay untouched for a few minutes and then developed the paper. The ghost lIke and distorted images are very cool.

[Solly Mack]

6. Yes! Those are wonderful! I've made one myself.

[jberryhill]

7. The best way to protect your eyes is with a fluid refractor tube

A long glass bottle full of tequila can refract and project a clear image on the sidewalk.

About a half an hour before the eclipse, I start drinking the tequila. Usually, I pass out about five minutes before the eclipse starts, and my eyes stay shut, thus protecting my retinas throughout the entire event.

[Solly Mack]

8. That's part of the celebration, yes.

[Purveyor]

11. You think it would work with vodka too? Every time I drink tequila, I get into a fight and get

my ass kicked...

Love you still Jared!

[bdtrppr6]

23. hahahahahahaha

TY i needed that. spit out my beer!

[montana_hazeleyes]

34. Lol!

[Purveyor]

9. Pegboards too... eom

[Solly Mack]

10. Yep! Another instant pinhole.

People have a lot of this stuff, if not all of it, already in the house.

[tblue37]

12. Of 2 pieces of white cardboard (or even white paper):

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/make-pinhole-projector.html

[Solly Mack]

13. Another great link! Thank you!

It's easy to do - and if you have kids, it is a fun lesson.

If you don't have kids, you get to learn something new for yourself.

Some might not think it as cool as the glasses but I think it cooler.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Um, a mirror ?? That's no good.

Most mirrors relect both UV and IR, just not quite as well as visible light. It won't help protect your eyes.

[Solly Mack]

16. Not up close or direct. That would be stupid. Use it to reflect back on the ground and watch the

ground...concrete preferably.

You'll see the shadow of the eclipse on the ground if placed correctly.

Guess I should have explained that one better. Sorry!

[eppur_se_muova]

62. Actually, you'll see a bright spot shaped roughly like the mirror ...

... unless it's a curved mirror. Plane mirrors don't focus.

Easier to use a pinhole. The more nearly circular the pinhole, the better. A hold poked through aluminum foil with a sharp needle is kind of the gold standard.

[Solly Mack]

63. Here's a video explaining how to use a mirror in the way I mean.

http://www.npr.org/2017/08/17/543633362/make-your-own-eclipse-viewer

Also, other methods already mentioned.

[Kaleva]

15. I'm going to make one out of a cereal box

[Solly Mack]

17. Thank you! Excellent link!

[trixie2]

29. Argh!

1. Not everyone has cereal boxes at their house. I think cereal is gross and have thought this since I was the age your mother tries to give you cereal and I dumped it out on the floor very ceremonially. I can't stand to watch someone eat cereal.

2. The guy lost me very early and I don't understand a thing he said. Why white paper at bottom, why look in one side and have a pinhole in the other side??????????????????????????????????????????????? IT MAKES NO SENSE.

3. I have trouble cutting paper with scissors. Not crafty at all. Hated art in elementary school.

4. This whole eclipse thing is giving me anxiety.

[DesertRat]

38. You can use a shoebox

[VigilantG]

24. Thank you! This is how I watched it back in the day too.

I was showing my youngest today!!

Love Science!!

[Solly Mack]

25. Thank you, VigilantG!

It's the cool way to watch.

[rusty fender]

27. I have a roll of

35mm film, unused--can I use it to look at the eclipse?

[lunamagica]

28. No, that's not safe

[Solly Mack]

39. I'm sorry! I only wanted to help people make their own viewing gadget

in case they didn't have the glasses.

I know it's not science - making a viewer - but it's something to help teach science.

I wasn't trying to offend anyone.

[trixie2]

31. I am making this my last post of the next couple days

If I hear eclipse one more fricking time I am going to lose it.

Can't find the glasses, can't make anything, can't cut paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I work at a library and we are the only library in the country who did not even bother to get the free glasses from NASA.

I hate everybody!

[Solly Mack]

35. I'm sorry! If I was near you I would help you make enough pinhole boxes to share.

I am so sorry!

wow - about not getting the free glasses. Bummer.

[pnwmom]

44. I hear ya! And I bring good news.

You don't have to make anything to see some cool effects on a wall or on the ground.

I'm afraid I don't have a link for this; I saved it without one, unfortunately. But it's self-explanatory.

WITH YOUR BACK TO THE SUN, try these:

Waffle fingers

If you have nothing handy with which to watch, don’t fret. Use your hands. Make waffle fingers! Look away from the sun and crosshatch your fingers, so they make little holes, so you can project the sun’s rays onto the side of a building or sidewalk. Check these suggestions from the American Astronomical Society. Do not look at the sun through your fingers! Let your fingers work for you and project the sun onto a surface.

Everyday kitchen gadgets work beautifully. Your favorite colander, a flat cheese grater, a serving spoon with small holes all serve to project the sun onto a wall, driveway or cardboard. Do not look at the sun through colanders, graters or slotted spoons! Again, hold up your device and project the sun onto a surface.

Or, stand under a leafy tree and look to the ground. You can see hundreds of eclipse projections right at your feet.

[Lars39]

32. Fingers, too!

With your back the the sun, hold your hands up together with fingers mostly together. The gaps between between your fingers acts as pinholes.

Look under trees too.

[Solly Mack]

36. Yeah, maybe. I'd go with the safer options though. Your hands might slip.

Still, it's a thought.

Your hands might get hot and sweaty, making them slippery. Is my primary concern.

[Lars39]

40. You would be facing away from the sun....no danger!

[Solly Mack]

41. Oh, OK. You did say that.

Never tried it, obviously.

[Lars39]

46. I haven't either!

I'm so excited, we're in prime viewing location.

[Solly Mack]

47. Excellent! I'm not. Just a partial.

I helped make some viewers for the neighborhood kids so I'm using one of those.

We're all getting together tomorrow to see what we can see.

Around 11:50 here for the start. It will be partial, but the kids are excited and that got me excited.

[Lars39]

49. That'll be fun!

I may make some extras just in case.

[Solly Mack]

51. You're going to make extra fingers? :)

Now that is cool!

I like it when children want to learn and get excited about the process.

[Lars39]

53. Heh, I meant cereal box viewers.:-)

[Solly Mack]

68. I know. I was teasing you. But, extra fingers would have been awesome.

Got to meet the kids at the playground near the house.

We have a table of fun facts, refreshments, and one of the other neighbors had "I saw the eclipse" stickers made.

Also have a projection screen going up.

Have to sign off soon and be an adult.

[Lars39]

69. Lucky kids!

You're great as a kid and an adult, Solly. Those kids are going to have a blast!

[Solly Mack]

70. Success! Fortunately the kids opted to not stay until the end. :D

All of our crude technology worked and we got to see a partial eclipse. We got a smile/crescent. A full smile, I'd call it.

I'm exhausted. The kids played, did projects, and settled in to watch - most of them.

Glad we had other ways to view since some of the kids destroyed their viewers overnight.

Kids will be kids.

We had peak at about 1:30 but the smaller kids went off to nap before then. Left us with maybe a handful of older kids to watch. By older I mean 5, 6, 7 and above. No teens though.

The projection screen/mirror pinhole reflector is still up and you can see the crescent growing larger and larger. Neighbor man is adjusting it as needed.

People stopped by to look for a few minutes then moved on. Usual block-party group.

Thank you, Lars39!

I think I need a nap now.

[Lars39]

71. Good thing it only comes round so often lol

We had really good luck with the pinholes and a pot skimmer?
I think I'm going to eat a late lunch and stretch out. Too much excitement on 5 hrs sleep.

[pnwmom]

42. You're not looking through your fingers, so it doesn't matter if they slip. You're still standing

with your back to the sun, and using your fingers to cast cool shadows on the ground. Or you could use a colander, or look at the shadows that the tree leaves are casting, etc.

[Solly Mack]

43. Yes, I grok now.

Thanks!

[pamela]

48. Look in the shade around a tree

[Solly Mack]

50. That is very cool!

[malaise]

56. Because Science

[VigilantG]

58. I'm up from late night wrong number...all

This talk of using your fingers made me think of this song: LOL!

https://g.co/kgs/NtDCgd



Love Science!

[malaise]

59. First time I ever heard that

Thanks

[Solly Mack]

66. And because why the fuck not?

[yallerdawg]

61. You can even use a saltine-style cracker!

Not to look at sun, but to look at cracker shadow with pin-hole light areas!

[Solly Mack]

64. Yep!

Even a cracker with clear holes.

[BainsBane]

65. I read that you can use a colander

and see the shadow on the sidewalk.

[Solly Mack]

67. Yes, you can.

It creates multiple ones.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

72. I used reading glasses.

Hold them to focus the sun's image on a brick, or something unlikely to burn, and the image was a nice "crescent sun". We didn't get a full eclipse, and I didn't feel like driving a long way.



When's the next eclipse?

btw, I used the same technique (but a better lens) to watch a "transit of Venus" across the sun, a few years ago.

[Solly Mack]

73. Cool! 2024, I think.

All we got was a crescent here, too. But I saw it!