Quick Scoop

During a solar eclipse, the main thing to do is protect your eyes and enjoy the event safely. The only safe way to look directly at the Sun during the eclipse is with proper solar filters such as eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer; regular sunglasses are not enough.

What to do

  • Wear certified eclipse glasses when looking at the Sun during partial phases.
  • Use a pinhole projector or other indirect viewing method if you do not have proper filters.
  • Watch shadows and light changes around you; eclipses make shadows look unusual and can be fun to observe safely.
  • Supervise children closely and make sure they never look at the Sun without proper protection.
  • Plan ahead for travel, parking, food, water, and bathroom access if you are going to an eclipse viewing site.

What not to do

  • Do not use ordinary sunglasses to view the eclipse.
  • Do not look through binoculars, cameras, or telescopes without special front-mounted solar filters.
  • Do not use damaged, scratched, or homemade filters.
  • Do not remove solar glasses while still facing the Sun.

If it is a total eclipse

If you are in the path of totality, it is only safe to look directly at the Sun during the brief period of totality itself; at all other times, use proper solar filters. For a partial eclipse, you should keep eclipse glasses on the entire time.

Easy safe idea

If you want a simple activity: make a pinhole projector with cardboard and watch the eclipse’s shape appear on paper or the ground.

If you want, I can also give you a 1-minute eclipse safety checklist or a kid-friendly version.