Solar Eclipse Safety Tips And DIY For Better Viewing Experience

On Monday August 21st at precisely 10:16 am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), the shadow of the moon will touch down in Lincoln City, Oregon. Making the landfall of a total solar eclipse that will cross 14 American States.

How This Solar Eclipse On August 21, 2017 Could Paralyze America

It will pass all the ways past South Carolina shoreline and into the Atlantic Ocean. The lasttime such an event happened coast to coast was in 1918 with 12.2 million people live within the 70 mile wide band where the eclipse will be total and millions more are expected to travel to witness it firsthand.

From Oregon to South Carolina, hotel bookings have skyrocketed. Charleston, South Carolina where totality will be visible for more than a minute is almost at capacity. With some lodgings having sold out two months ago, while in Oregon, the cases of motels dropping reservations and then attempting to resell them for up to $1000 a night have gotten so bad that the State's attorney general has open an investigation into what's going on.

If we have some good weather, it will absolutely be the most viewed total eclipse in human history. This phenomenon at this age and time is so different from anything you've ever experienced.

Another thing that will be unprecedented is the traffic. 2/3 of America lives within a day's drive of the path of totality and highways could turn into a great American traffic jam.

Eclipse 2017 Safety Tips

Don't improvise - the number one rule for safe eclipse viewing is don't improvise. If you don't know what you are doing, don't do it because it can really damage your eyes.

Use safety glasses - remember that don't just use a regular eyeglass. Buy a certified eclipse glasses and if you plan to use welding masks, make sure it is shade 14 lens.

Watch this video on how eclipse can cook you eyes:

Eclipse Viewing On Budget (DIY)

If you don't want to spend some money for a few minute event, you can still enjoy the eclipse party by following the DIY tutorials below.

Paper/Cardboard - with this method, you can imitate the sun's ray on a piece of paper and you can clearly see the eclipse's full total blackout.

1. Get a piece of paper or cardboard.
2. Use a pen, pencil or any pointed object and make a hole in the middle of the paper.
3. The diameter should be the same with the pen.
4.  The hole will imitate the sun as you put another piece of paper below.

Box Viewing - the effect will be more dramatic using this method but take note that it has the same idea of projecting the eclipse on a piece of paper.

Here's how to do it:

1. Cut a piece of aluminum foil to cover the left hole. Tape in place.
2. Next, make a hole big enough to allow the sunlight pass through it.
3. With the sun behind you, look into the right hole.

Tree Eclipse - if you don't have time to make the paper or box eclipse, just look around you.

1. Pick a tree that has many leaves.
2. Observe how the leaves' shadow were similar to the eclipse.

Cellphone Camera Eclipse - this is one of the easiest but take note it can still damage your eyes and your phone's camera lens if you're not careful.

1. Go to your camera
2. Capture the sun during the duration of the eclipse.
3. Make sure your eyes is hidden under your phone's shadow or else you can damage your eyes.
4. Don't capture the whole duration because it will also damage your smartphone's camera lens.

Solar Eclipse Live Stream

We are lucky that NASA will provide a live streaming of the solar eclipse. Here's the link. Or you can watch this YouTube live stream below.