DIY Solar Viewing Glasses: Safely View the Sun

Watching an observed solar eclipse is cool, but there are a lot of precautions to be taken involving the eyes with this activity. A solar eclipse does not mean the eyes are safe enough to stare directly at the sun or with some unresearched filter. Although eclipse glasses manufactured by industry can be bought commercially, the motivation lies in making your own DIY eclipse glasses-this is an educational and entertaining activity too. Let’s see how we can make our safe eclipse glasses through step-by-step creation:.

Why You Need Eclipse Glasses

Sunlight is also extremely bright and can burn a hole in your retina if it is looked into, even partially. Solar eclipse glasses have filters specifically designed to block almost 100 percent of light across the visible as well as ultraviolet spectrum. So, they are the only safe way to observe this natural phenomenon. Avoid trying your standard sunglasses or old glasses.

Elements Required to Build Your Own Homemade Eclipse Glasses

• You can buy ready-made sheets of solar filter that are ISO 12312-2 compliant, ensuring you filter out all those bad UV and infrared rays.
• You will be needing cardboard or thick paper to serve as the frame for your glasses.
• You need scissors in order to cut up the frame and the filter sheet.
• Tape or glue will be used in assembling the filter and the frame together.
• A ruler and a pencil are needed to measure and draw lines.

How to Make DIY Eclipse Glasses

Step 1: Make the Frame.

Use cardstock, cardboard, or poster board to make the frame. You’ll be creating two identical pieces-one for the front and one for the back of your glasses. Each frame should have two rectangular cutouts for the lenses.

Helpful Hint: You can find plenty of free online templates. If you can’t, create the rectangles big enough to hold your solar filters, and you get to design them.

Step 2: Preparation of the Solar Filters

Cut two small rectangles from your solar filter sheet, fitting the cutouts of your lenses. Be sure that you get certified solar filters with ISO standards to ensure proper protection.

Safety Information: Never attempt to use untested materials such as CDs, DVDs, smoked glass or household aluminum foil as a substitute for commercially purchased solar filters.

Step 3: Assemble the Glasses

Place your solar filter sheets in between the two parts of your frames. Tape or glue the filters down in place so that the entire lens cutouts are covered. Inspect your handiwork closely for gaps and tears in filter material.

Step 4. Add Side Supports for Ear

Cut extra side strips from cardboard or paper and attach these to your frames on both sides to create supports for ears. That way, you would know that the glasses could comfortably stay on your face to view the eclipse.

DIY Tip: In addition to the above, you can also decorate your frame with markers, stickers, or even paint to make it more unique and personalized.

Testing and Safety Check

Use: Examine your homemade eclipse glasses very carefully for holes or tears and any scratches on the filter. Test the glasses by viewing through them at a bright light or the sun to ensure no extra light enters. If you do spot some bright spots, you’ll probably need to start over and discard the glasses.

Important Reminder: Even if you have your eclipse glasses, don’t stare too long at the sun. Take a break to avoid being over-exposed to filtered sunlight for too long.

Alternative DIY: Pinhole Projector

If this bothers you or if you can’t find any solar filter sheets, a pinhole projector is a great substitute. All you need to do is a piece of cardboard with a tiny hole that will project the image of the eclipse onto a flat surface, ideally a white paper sheet or on the ground.

Conclusion

What’s sure to entertain and educate children who are interested in the study of astronomy and science is to make your own eclipse glasses. And, of course: safety in numbers – use only certified solar filters and follow all instructions when looking at the astounding event of the solar eclipse.

Okay, ready, set, go! Making our very own eclipse glasses for the next time a celestial event occurs. See you all during this exciting time. ??????