How do I safely watch the eclipse?

Sunglasses won’t cut it. Special eclipse glasses are crucial for safely observing the sun as the moon marches across the late morning and afternoon sky, covering more and more and then less and less of our star.

During totality when the sun is completely shrouded, it’s fine to remove your glasses and look with your naked eyes. But before and after, certified eclipse glasses are essential to avoid eye damage. Just make sure they’re not scratched or torn.

Cameras, binoculars and telescopes, including your cellphone camera must be outfitted with special solar filters for safe viewing.

Bottom line: Never look at an exposed sun without proper protection any day of the year.

No glasses? You can make a pinhole camera or projector

In fact, according to NASA, you can make your very own pinhole camera or pinhole projector to safely and easily watch the eclipse without looking directly at the sun and risking eye damage.

Pinhole cameras

A DIY-pinhole camera basically involves a light-proof box with a sort of film (usually aluminum foil), a sheet of paper and a tiny pinhole.

Note: The longer the box, the larger the projected image you see.

Cut a rectangular hole at one end of the box and then cut out a piece of aluminum foil bigger than the rectangular hole.

Tape the foil over the rectangular hole and use a pin (or needle) to poke a hole in the middle of the foil.

Then, tape the sheet of paper you have on the inside of the box at the opposite end of the rectangular hole.

HOW TO USE SAFELY: During the partial phases of the eclipse, make sure your back is toward the sun. Do not look at the sun through the pinhole. You'll want to place the box over your head with the pinhole facing the sun and adjust your sance until you see an inverted image or projection of the eclipsed sun on the paper inside the box.

Use a cereal box as a pinhole camera

Credit: undefined

Credit: undefined

All you’ll need is a cereal box (without the cereal), aluminum foil, tape and a pin, needle or toothpick to poke the pinhole.

Watch the NASA video below for a step-by-step tutorial:

Pinhole projectors

These projectors are similar to pinhole camera projectors, but require even fewer materials.

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Credit: undefined

To make a pinhole projector, you really just need something with a pinhole in it and something that will project an image. You could use two sheets of printer paper, card stock or even paper plates.

Just poke a pinhole in one with a pin and hold it up to the sun, letting the sunlight shine through.

Use your second paper (or plate) or a wall as a screen to see the partially obscured sun safely, without damaging your eyes.

HOW TO USE SAFELY: While viewing the eclipse through the pinhole projector, your back will be to the sun. You do not look at the sun through the pinhole. Instead, you look at the image created by the sunlight shining through the pinhole projector.

Print out one of NASA’s 2D/3D printable pinhole projectors

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Credit: undefined

Whether you have access to a 3D printer or not, NASA has both 3D and 2D downloadable projectors in the shape of America (or your state) that you can print and cut out using paper or card stock.

Get creative with your pinhole projectors

You can put your own spin on your pinhole projector by punching several holes in a sheet of paper in the shape of essentially anything − a pattern, animal, number, word etc.

During the eclipse, those several pinholes will show multiple inverted crescents.

Use your hands to create a pinhole projector

Credit: Exploratorium

Credit: Exploratorium

If you’re just not the crafty type, you can essentially just use your hands to catch the eclipse and its phases.

Hold up both of your hands and overlap your fingers at right angles. The small holes between your fingers will act as pinholes as you watch the projected image on a wall or paper as a screen. Make sure your back is still facing the sun.

-Material from the Associated Press was included in this article