Creating a Pinhole Solar Eclipse Viewer and Box Solar Eclipse Viewer

If you’re planning on observing the solar eclipse on April 8 this year, whether you’re in the middle of the total solar eclipse or not, you’ll need some gear to fully enjoy it.

The most important rule during a solar eclipse is not to look directly at the sun. This is only possible during totality, a few minutes when the sun’s light is completely blocked by the moon. But for everyone in North America who lives outside the 185-kilometer-wide total orbit, only a partial eclipse will be visible. And for those on the inside of the road, there are still a few hours on either side of totality, but part of the fun is watching the moon slowly move across the sun.

You can use special solar filters, such as eclipse glasses, to look directly at the sun. But you can also view the eclipse using a simple viewer made from a few things you probably have on hand. Here we will introduce how to create two types of Eclipse viewers.

How to make a pinhole camera

All you need for this viewer is paper, aluminum foil, scissors, and a pen. Make a hole in the middle of a piece of paper and cover with foil. Stick the foil in place and use a pen, needle, or other sharp object to make a small hole in the center of the foil. On the day of a solar eclipse, simply hold this up to the sun and place another piece of paper on the ground below. A small bright dot appears on the second sheet of paper. This is a solar projection. As the eclipse progresses and the moon covers more of the sun, you’ll see the shape of the dot change.

How to make a box eclipse viewer

The second type of eclipse viewer works similarly, but the projection is displayed inside a box instead of on the ground. For this, you will need paper, foil, scissors, and a cardboard box. Cereal boxes or shoe boxes work well.

Line one side of the inside of the box with white paper. Then, drill two holes, spaced apart on opposite sides. Tape the foil to one hole and make a small hole in it. The other hole will be a place to look inside.

On the day of the solar eclipse, hold the viewer in front of you with your back to the sun. A projection of the sun should appear on the white paper lined inside the box.

solar eclipse 2024

On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Our special series covers everything you need to know, from how and when to see a solar eclipse to the strangest solar eclipse experience of all time.