How to Safely View This Year’s Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is coming that you probably don’t want to miss. They’re actually pretty rare. The last solar eclipse to span the length of the United States took place 99 years ago. Now, it’s about to happen again in 2017. This August 21, the sun will hide behind the moon and shroud the nation in darkness from coast to coast (unless you live in Michigan, where you probably won’t see the total effect--sorry northerners). This is a once in a lifetime experience and many people will surely want to witness the event for themselves.

The total solar eclipse will last only about 2 minutes, give or take, depending on where you live, but it’s important to take some extra care to protect yourself and your eyes. Staring directly into the sun during a partial solar eclipse can be extremely dangerous. So, to prevent you from accidentally frying your eyeballs, here are a couple ways you can safely watch the eclipse.

Solar Filters

Sunglasses are great, but they don’t offer enough protection for you to look at direct sunlight. Instead, you can buy special eclipse glasses, which are like regular sunglasses, but these have solar filters specifically designed to protect your eyes from the light’s rays. Before using your filter, make sure it isn’t damaged and that it meets the ISO 12312-2 standard.

Similar guidelines apply to cameras, telescopes, and binoculars. You can use these tools to view a solar eclipse, but they would also need filters in order to protect your eyes.

Pinhole Projection

Another way you can observe an eclipse is by using a pinhole projector. These are fairly easy to make yourself (and, even better --- cheap!) as long as you have two pieces of paper or a box, some foil, and something sharp like a needle. You can project the sun into the projector and look at it safely. Of course, this may not be as exciting as getting to see the eclipse directly, but it’s a helpful option if you’re viewing the sun on a budget. Here’s a DIY video to help you make one:

Make your own pinhole projector...

An eclipse is a beautiful, rare occurrence that you’ll probably want to experience for yourself. By following these simple tips, you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe during this special event.