Curious how to watch the solar eclipse without looking up? Here’s your cheat sheet.
NASA offers some do-it-yourself projects that don’t require you to look directly at the sun On April 8, a solar eclipse will be observed in areas across Central and North America where it can be viewed in the path of totality. However, those without special eclipse glasses need to find other ways to participate in this rare celestial event. These DIY projects can be easily done with household items such as aluminum foil, tape, a pin, pen, or protractor, and imagination. These include making holes in one sheet in the shape of words or objects, positioning the sun to cast light onto another surface, and using a cereal box or a shoe box to project light onto the bottom of the box. Other DIY projects include observing clouds during the eclipse and monitoring wildlife reaction. NASA is streaming the event live with experts and recording it for more than a million times.
Published : 2 months ago by Carlos Muñoz in Tech Science
Here are a few do-it-yourself projects you can make so you don’t miss the big moment. After all the next won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044.
Those without snazzy lenses will need to find other ways to safely participate in the rare celestial event. This can be easily done with a few familiar household items and a willingness to view the eclipse in reflection or other refractions of light. So if you forgot to order glasses, fear not.
On April 8, millions of starry-eyed spectators will descend on areas across Central and North America where the solar eclipse can be viewed in the path of totality. Most will wear eclipse glasses made of special solar-blocking material to protect their eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.
What you need: Two pieces of paper, cardboard, or a solid, light-colored sheet, aluminum foil, tape, a pin, pen, or protractor to poke a small hole.
Instructions: Start by cutting a hole in the center of a sheet of paper, or cardboard, and tape aluminum foil over the space. Carefully poke a small hole in the center of the foil so you can see through it. This allows the sun to cast light through the perforation onto another surface. To avoid looking into the sun, stand with your back to the sun, and hold the card so that the sun shines through the hole, and a speck of sunlight shines onto the other card. The stage of the eclipse will be visible. Only in the path of totality may you look at the sun briefly when it is fully eclipsed by the moon.
What you need: A small box, scissors, aluminum foil, a piece of paper or cardboard, a pin or nail, and tape.
Instructions: This is best done with a cereal box or a shoe box but any box can be used with some adjustments. Place the end of the box (that opens) on a sheet of paper, or if bigger, a large piece of dark cardboard, and trace the bottom of the box. Cut that shape and use it to block the bottom of the box. This is where light will be projected when you complete your project. On the other end, cut out the flaps so there are open spaces on each end of the box, leaving the middle covered. Make sure the middle is taped so that it has no open areas. Over one of the openings, place a solid piece of cardboard or paper and tape it down. Punch a hole in the middle of the paper so that it allows a spot of light to shine on the bottom of the box. To safely use the projector, face away from the sun, and hold the box in front of your face so that the opening with the hole is above and the uncovered part of the box is over your eye. Adjust so that the sun shines through the hole and projects light during the partial eclipse. The speck of light will appear as a crescent at the bottom of the box.
What you need: Two sheets of paper or cardboard, a pen or hole puncher, and your imagination.
Instructions: Make holes in one sheet in the shape of words or objects. During the eclipse, go outside, and turn away from the sun to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Hold your art in front of you so that the sun passes through the holes, and casts light onto another sheet or solid surface. Ask someone to take a picture, and share your art.
You don’t need to build anything. A kitchen strainer, colander, perforated spatula, making hand puppets, or watching nature’s shadows offers chances to see crescents on the ground. You may also opt to help out NASA with over 40 citizen-science projects that involve recording your observations in the path of darkness.
• None Use your smartphone to help NASA scientists understand the size and the shape of the sun better. SunSketcher: Use your smartphone to help NASA scientists understand the size and the shape of the sun better.
• None Measure air temperature changes and monitor clouds during the eclipse through an app tab that opens up the day of the eclipse. Globe Observer: Measure air temperature changes and monitor clouds during the eclipse through an app tab that opens up the day of the eclipse.
• None Explore the reaction of wildlife during the eclipse, along with the sounds you experience during the celestial show. Eclipse Soundscape: Explore the reaction of wildlife during the eclipse, along with the sounds you experience during the celestial show.
Click here for more NASA citizen science projects.
If you’re not feeling creative, NASA is streaming the event live with experts. The NASA Plus broadcast takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
Also, check for events at local observatories and businesses in your area.
Carlos Muñoz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @ReadCarlos and on Instagram @Carlosbrknews.