If you don't have a pair of approved solar eclipse glasses by now, you may be out of luck trying to find some. But if you've got a large cardboard box and a few other supplies, you might still be able to view Monday afternoon's total solar eclipse safely.
Here's how.
Making a pinhole eclipse viewer
A pinhole eclipse viewer would project an image through a small hole in an object, onto a surface, allowing you to safely observe light, according to the Adler Planetarium. You could then project the light onto a wall, the floor or a surface on the inside of your pinhole projector.
NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Brant Miller and Telemundo Chicago Meteorologist Maricela Vazquez broke down the step-by-step process of making an eclipse viewing box on Friday night during special eclipse coverage.
Supplies
- Large cardboard box
- A piece of paper
- Tape
- Aluminum Foil
- Scissors
- Pin
Step-by-step instructions
- Step 1: Grab a large cardboard box. While you might have heard of people using cereal boxes, you'll want something with a longer focal length, according to Miller.
- Step 2: Take a white piece of paper and tape it onto one side of the box's interior.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
- Step 3: On the opposite side of where you put the piece of paper, cut a small square from the cardboard.
- Step 4: Grab a piece of aluminum foil and tape it over the hole, making sure the hole is completely covered.
- Step 5: Using a pin, make a small hole in the center of the foil.
