If you don’t have access to a pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses for the annular solar eclipse October 14th, a rudimentary pinhole eclipse viewer can be made using common household materials:
- A cardboard box
- A white piece of paper
- A pair of scissors
- Tape
- A piece of foil
- A nail
The hole in the foil serves as a pinhole camera, but will be viewed on a “screen” rather than recorded onto film. The white piece of paper serves for improved contrast when viewing in the box.

While a nail was used for this video, any small, sharp, and pointed object like a sharpened pencil or threading needle would work. A smaller pinhole makes for a less bright, but sharper image. If you think the hole you made is too big, the foil is easily interchangeable to try it again! #photonics #solareclipse #solareclipse2023