I am really looking forward to watching the Monday’s solar eclipse. I’ll be in North Georgia at my in-laws’ house that will have 99.5% total coverage. I am ready with my Space.com and NOAA approved viewing glasses for this event. I remember the total eclipse in 1970. I was with my Great Aunt Tillie in Savannah and was eerie. The street lights came on, birds went to roost. I was all prepared with a viewing box that the instructions were given in the Weekly Reader at school. Unfortunately, it was overcast, so I couldn’t use it.
Viewing glasses have been flying off the shelves here and the displays that I saw at the grocery store last week have all disappeared.
So, here is a guide of making your own, home brew eclipse viewer…
To build your own, get a carton and cut a hole in one side, big enough to poke your head through. Paste white paper on the inside surface that you will be facing. Then punch a pinhole into the opposite side, high enough so that the little shaft of light will miss your head. For a sharper image you can make a better pinhole by cutting a one inch square hole in the carton, taping a piece of aluminum foil over this hole and then making the pinhole in the foil. Finally, tape the box shut and cover all light leaks with black tape.
Happy viewing!
