Who turned out the lights? On Monday, April 8, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, which is when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light and darkening the sky briefly midday. Find out if you’re on the path of totality—the darkest part of the eclipse—on NASA’s map here, and when to see it. The next total solar eclipse visible in North American won’t be until 2044.
Safety is the No. 1 priority when viewing a total solar eclipse. To view this rare occasion in real time, it’s important to use special eclipse glasses (no, dark sunglasses from Walgreens won’t do the trick!) or use an indirect viewing method like a pinhole projector.
Here’s how to make a simple eclipse viewer yourself at home using products from your local Walgreens.
You’ll need:
Get it from Walgreens now with 1-hour Delivery or pickup in as little as 30 minutes. Or, find your local Walgreens.
Step 1: Eat cereal!
Step 2: Trace the bottom of the cereal box onto the piece of printer paper.
Step 3: Cut out the shape you traced and tape it to the bottom of the box.
Step 4: Cut out two sides of the top of the box, leaving the center intact.
Step 5: Firmly cover one of the holes with aluminum foil and tape. Use your pencil to poke a tiny hole in the foil.
Step 6: Face away from the sun and position the box so sunlight enters the pinhole to project the eclipse onto the paper at the bottom. Do NOT look directly at the sun.
Happy eclipse viewing!
