Eclipse Ready: How do you build a box projector to view the eclipse?

WDIO's Storm Track Chief Meteorologist Justin Liles shows us how to build a homemade box projector to view the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. You can use this projector if you do not have the proper glasses for protection. Remember, never look directly at the sun.
Equipment you will need: a box of some sort; white paper; tinfoil; duct tape; scissors; pin; pencil. If you are doing this with children, there will be some difficult cutting, so an adult may need to help.
STEPS:
- Get a box. A cereal box works great.
- Trace a the bottom of the box on a piece of white paper. Cut out and tape inside the bottom of the box.
- Cut 2 rectangular holes on the top of the box. (narrow side) One on the right, the other on the left.
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the left hole. Tape in place.
- Look into box through right hole. If you see any light, fix with duct tape.
- Poke a pin hole in the center of the tin foil.
- Turn your back to the sun, and look through the right hole.
The light will filter through the pin hole and reflect on the paper in the back.
*** NEVER look directly at the solar eclipse.

[@jaileengonzalez48]

I just made this in like 4 minutes and was able to catch the eclipse !! Thank you!! my fiance is now without a cereal box BUT THAT'S OKAY

[@michaellindamood2137]

Of all the videos thank God I found yours I’ve never made one everyone else show the finished product and then told you how to do it and then I finally found yours the last video and it was a great video. Thank you so much.

[@underwaterjungle]

Worked like a charm! Thanks. We only did a pinhole though.

[@c103110a]

Nice table...

[@SQUIGGLEVISION3D]

You rock thank you

[@HannahKnitting]

Dying to know what the person in the back is up to

[@WDIONews]

Unfortunately one of our reporters was getting ready for a live shot and did not realize she was in the background. :)

[@showsropper]

hole needs to be as tiny as possible, just saying. he did everything right except for punching hole into an aluminum foil. punching a pinhole should have been enough.

[@WDIONews]

Yes. That is correct. I think Justin was doing it larger for emphasis because he does mention a pinhole in the text. Thank you for clarifying. The hole needs to be a pinhole.

[@MoonGoddesstiny]

What about the flaps on the inside of the boxes, like the ones from the sides on top where we cut the squares? Hopefully I get a response soon because I have less than an hour to prepare.

[@user-tw2rd8sr8o]

❤❤😊

[@rrbb36]

You could’ve simply aligned the box end with the corner of the paper-then you’d only need to cut 2 sides instead of 4 !! 🤔

[@ingridlangloislanglois7737]

I am lost - which direction do you face ? The sun or your back?

[@nilespeshay1734]

the sun/moon needs to be at your back ( in order for it's light to enter your box)

[@Issac10t]

Hi, any alternatives for aluminum foil?

[@WDIONews]

All of the examples we have researched use foil, primarily because it is sturdy and easy to poke a tiny hole through. You could use a thicker, opaque card stock.

[@Issac10t]

​@@WDIONewsThank you so much! I just came back to the video to start building it :) Happy eclipse !

[@patriciatownsend7164]

What side of foil faces inside bix?

[@jojomakes]

Both sides of foil are the same

[@davidwatchesyoutube247]

Won’t work without the hole being smaller - aka pinhole

[@WDIONews]

Thank you for the comment. think Justin was doing it larger to show the detail, because he does mention a pinhole in the text. Thank you for clarifying. The hole needs to be a pinhole.

[@cassidylaw2458]

Lol what if it ignites 😮

[@H2OMANLV]

I dunno.... that's some straight up Cape Canaveral rocket science shit right there! I don't think any of us mere mortals have the scientific intellect nor the high quality materials to build such a sophisticated piece of scientific equipment, much less operate it!! 🥺

[@GreenBoySlick]

Yea I wanna see the eclipse but I’m too dumb to figure this out🤣

[@MoonGoddesstiny]

@@GreenBoySlickit’s easy lol I was thrown off at first, but mine is ready. Now I’m helping my daughter make hers! Depending on where you are in America, there’s still time to make one!

[@sam.franco]

They way I made it and it didn’t work 😭💔

[@GailHodder]

The hole you made is too big and this will not work. The hole has to be TINY! Use a thumb tack. You are essentially making a pin-hole camera. Thus, it needs to be a pin hole! 😎

[@WDIONews]

I think Justin was doing it larger for emphasis because he does mention a pinhole in the text. Thank you for the comment and for clarifying. The hole needs to be tiny, a pinhole.

[@JoAnns22]

He looked at the eclipse, you’re supposed to stand with the eclipse at your back

[@WDIONews]

The image in the background wasn't what Justin was looking at, however it is a bit misleading. He does mention in the video and the text. to have the sun at your back.

[@ingridlangloislanglois7737]

Thanks for clarifying

[@Asmas_world]

There's cloud 😢

[@WDIONews]

Yes. Unfortunately it is cloudy. We are streaming the event as it moves across the country - from ABC News. www.wdio.com/weather-news/solar-eclipse-stream-abc-affiliates/

[@ingridlangloislanglois7737]

Well all I saw was a white dot the whole time - so this thing was effectively useless IMO

[@Username-bh8bl]

This shit did not work