Obviously, never look directly at the sun without protective eyewear. However, there are a few other less obvious things you should never do when viewing the solar eclipse.

  • You MUST only look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times.
  • Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
  • Always supervise children using solar viewers.
  • Do NOT cameras to view the eclipse.
  • Do NOT binoculars to view the eclipse.
  • Do NOT telescopes to view the eclipse.

DIY ECLIPSE PROJECTOR

If you forgot to grab a pair of approved solar eclipse viewing glasses, no worries, you can easily make your own at home with everyday common household items.

NASA explains the easy process to create your eclipse projector.

Items needed:

  • cardboard box
  • white sheet of paper
  • tape
  • scissors
  • aluminum foil
An eclipse projector is an easy and safe way to view the eclipsed Sun. NASA
An eclipse projector is an easy and safe way to view the eclipsed Sun.
NASA
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How to view the solar eclipse with a homemade projector:

Step 1: With the Sun behind you, sunlight will stream through a pinhole punched into aluminum foil taped over a hole in one side of the box.

Step 2: During the partial phases of a solar eclipse, this will project a crescent Sun onto a white sheet of paper taped to the inside of the box.

Step 3: Look into the box through another hole cut into the box to see the projected image.

Read More: Texas DOT Issues 7 Warnings About Rare Historic Solar Eclipse

Follow these safety tips to ensure a safe viewing experience:

  • Anticipate heavy traffic.
  • Anticipate sudden stops by drivers.
  • Stay vigilant for distracted pedestrians gazing at the sky.
  • Keep your headlights on while driving, even in daylight.
  • Refrain from wearing eclipse glasses while driving.
  • Always focus on the road. 
  • Only view the eclipse once safely parked away from the traffic flow.

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