How to View a Solar Eclipse

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
This is an activity to do when there is a solar eclipse! Eclipses do not happen frequently, but when one does, learners will be excited to discover that they can view the eclipse using a pinhole projector instead of looking at it directly, which can cause permanent eye damage (or even blindness!). The pinhole projector is easy and inexpensive to make with materials you can find around the house. If you like this activity, you may enjoy Bob Miller's light walk activities, which also involve looking at the sun through pinholes, but on a normal sunny day.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 2 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - adult
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • long box (at least 6 ft)
  • aluminum foil
  • a pin
  • a sheet of white paper
  • binoculars (optional)
  • duct tape (optional)
  • tripod (optional)

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
    • Earth, Moon and Sun
      • Eclipses
    • Solar System
      • The Sun
  • Physical Sciences
    • Light and Optics
      • Sunlight and Color

Informal Categories

  • Nature and Environment
  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Hipschman, Ron

Rights:

Funding Sources:

  • NASA
  • The Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum