With the highly anticipated total solar eclipse happening Monday, protecting your eyes is important.
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According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, direct exposure to the sun’s UV rays can lead to eye diseases such as eye cancer, cataracts, or blindness.
Knowing this, you should prepare to wear eclipse glasses or create your own protection.
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can design your own viewer using materials you may already have.
One way to do this is by using a cereal box, aluminum foil, tape, scissors, a pen, a pin, and a piece of paper.
1. First, lay the piece of paper under the box of cereal.
2. Then grab your pen and outline the bottom of the box.
3. Now take your scissors and cut the outline.
4. Then take your cutout and tape it at the bottom of the box from the inside.
5. Cut one side from the top lid of the cereal box.
6. Take some aluminum foil and cover the side you cut.
7. With the pin, poke a hole into the foil.
8. Now, cut the other side of the top lid, but leave this one uncovered.
(You will use the uncovered side to view an image of the eclipse.)
8. Having your back against the sun, use your viewer and enjoy the eclipse!
Another simple alternative is one using a piece of cardstock or cardboard, a piece of paper, and a pin.
1. First, with the pin, poke a hole in the middle of the cardstock/cardboard.
2. Having your back against the sun, take the projector and position it over the piece of paper.
3. The piece of paper will act as a screen where you’ll be able to see patterns of the eclipse.
When in doubt, you can always purchase eclipse glasses at participating locations such as Home Depot, just make sure they are labeled with ISO 12312-2, a certification from the American Astronomical Society.
And wherever and however you view the total solar eclipse, be sure to submit your pictures and videos to Click2Pins here!
Disclaimer: When using either of these viewers, make sure you don’t look into the sun directly. You need eclipse glasses if you want to look into the sun. This is only to view an image of the eclipse.