The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
A pinhole projector lets you watch the Sun’s changing shape without looking at the Sun. Make a tiny opening in foil or card, keep the Sun behind you, and project the image onto a separate white surface. Look only at that projected image—not through the hole.
What you need
- Two pieces of white cardstock
- Aluminum foil
- Tape
- A pin, paper clip, or pencil
NASA JPL estimates its two-card activity can be completed in under 30 minutes; that is a project-time estimate, not a performance measurement.
Make the two-card pinhole projector
- Cut the projector card. Cut a roughly 1-to-2-inch square or rectangle in the center of one piece of cardstock.
- Cover the opening. Tape aluminum foil over the cutout so it is flat and secure.
- Poke the pinhole. Turn the card over and make one small hole in the foil with a pin, paper clip, or pencil. NASA JPL does not specify a required hole diameter.
- Set up the screen. Place the second card on the ground or another light-colored surface.
- Project the Sun. Stand with the Sun behind you. Hold the foil-covered card above the screen, with the foil facing upward. A small image of the Sun will appear on the lower card.
- Improve contrast. Keep the screen card in a shaded area while the foil card remains in sunlight. Increasing the distance between the projector card and screen makes the projected image larger.
The hole acts like a tiny camera lens: sunlight passes through it and forms an image on the receiving card. Your eyes stay on the card, on the shaded side of the setup.
Make an enclosed cardboard-box projector
A box keeps the projection area shaded and enclosed. Gather a cardboard box, white paper, tape, scissors, and aluminum foil.
Recommended: PC Feels Slow? A Free Scan Shows What's Dragging Windows Down →Recommended: Crashes or Glitches? A Free Driver Scan Usually Finds the Culprit →
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Wooden Pinhole Light Experiment for Physics Education and Classroom Demonstrations for Wooden Demonstrations Optical Pinhole and Light Hands Science Educational Education Imaging Physics Projector
- Demonstrates optical principles through pinhole imaging technology, this wooden science experiment set provides clear visual of light ' s rectilinear propagation Perfect for physics education
- Teaching aid suitable for multiple educational settings including school labs, science fairs, and family science activities Engages learners of all ages with practical light phenomenon demonstrations
- Features tool frees assembly design for setups, allowing teachers to efficiently demonstrate light behavior concepts Students can easily handle the apparatus during hands on learning
- Crafted from wood, this educational tool friendly construction that withstands repeated classroom use Safe than alternatives, it maintains structural integrity over time
- Simplifies complex physics concepts by making abstract light theories tangible through direct observation This teaching tool helps students grasp fundamental optical principles with ease
- Tape foil over a small opening on one side of the box.
- Poke a small pinhole in the foil.
- Tape white paper inside the opposite end of the box to serve as the screen.
- Cut a separate viewing opening in a side of the box.
- With the Sun behind you, look through the viewing opening at the image on the internal paper screen.
The viewing opening is not the pinhole. Never look toward the Sun through the foil aperture.
Two-card or box: which should you use?
| Feature | Two-card projector | Box projector |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Two cardstock pieces, foil, tape, and a pin, paper clip, or pencil | Cardboard box, white paper, foil, tape, and scissors |
| Where the image appears | On a separate card or other white surface | On white paper inside the box |
| Viewing arrangement | Look at the external screen from the shaded side | Look through a separate side opening at the internal screen |
| Main advantage | Fastest, simplest build | Enclosed screen can be easier to shade |
| Safety principle | Observe only the projected image; never look through the pinhole at the Sun | |
Other ways to project the eclipse
The American Astronomical Society lists several alternatives that use the same indirect-viewing principle:
Rank #2
Hands on Physics Learning Aid Educational Wood Pinhole Projector for School Labs and Home Science Demonstrating Use Physics Demonstration Set
- Crafted from wood, this educational tool friendly construction that withstands repeated classroom use Safe than alternatives, it maintains structural integrity over time
- Features tool frees assembly design for quick setups, allowing teachers to efficiently demonstrate light behavior concepts Students can easily handle the apparatus during hands on learning
- Demonstrates optical principles through pinhole imaging technology, this wooden science experiment set provides clear visual of light ' s rectilinear propagation Perfect for physics education
- Teaching aid suitable for multiple educational settings including school labs, science fairs, and family science activities Engages learners of all ages with practical light phenomenon demonstrations
- Simplifies complex physics concepts by making abstract light theories tangible through direct observation This teaching tool helps students grasp fundamental optical principles with ease
- A card with a small hole
- A colander
- A straw hat
- Crossed fingers
- Small gaps between leaves
With the Sun behind you, these openings project many small images onto the ground or another surface. During a partial eclipse, the images appear crescent-shaped. During an annular eclipse, they appear as small rings.
Critical eclipse-viewing safety
- Do not look at the Sun through the pinhole. NASA’s warning is: “Do NOT look at the Sun through the pinhole!”
- During a partial or annular eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized solar viewing protection. The sky becoming darker does not make direct viewing safe.
- Regular sunglasses—including very dark sunglasses—are not solar viewers.
- Do not attach eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers to binoculars, telescopes, or cameras. Those optical devices require purpose-made solar filters fitted over the front; that is a different setup from this projector.
- A pinhole projection is too faint to observe during totality, according to the American Astronomical Society.
- For a total solar eclipse, direct unaided viewing is safe only during the brief total phase, when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face. Put approved solar viewers back on immediately when any bright Sun reappears.
When the projector will not show a clear image
- No image: Reposition yourself so the Sun is directly behind you and the foil card is in full sunlight.
- Image too faint: Shade the screen card, keep the foil aperture unobstructed, and use a white screen.
- Image too small: Move the projector card farther from the screen.
- Temptation to check the hole: Do not turn the card toward the Sun or look through it. Inspect the foil only with the Sun behind you and the card pointed away from your face.
This method answers “How can I view the eclipse without looking directly at the Sun?” by keeping the Sun behind the observer and placing the image on a separate surface.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Quick Recap
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 5
Best Value
Rank #4
Miroir Mini Projector, Home HD Projector with Built-in Speaker, Auto Focus, Keystone Correction, Portable for Outdoor Movies, Compatible with Smartphone, TV Stick, Laptop, HDMI, USB
- 【Cinema-Quality Mini Projector: HD & 200 ANSI Brightness】 Experience true HD clarity with ISO-certified 200 ANSI brightness – 50% sharper than similar video projectors. Premium 3-glass lens perfect for home theater or outdoor movie nights, delivering vibrant colors (≥38% NTSC) and 5000:1 contrast for lifelike details in dark environments.
- 【Smart Self-Adjusting Screen: Perfect Image, Any Surface】→ Auto Magic: Place it on uneven bedsides or tilted shelves – built-in smart sensors instantly fix blur and distortion, creating a razor-sharp rectangle.→ Manual Fine-Tune: For tricky angled walls (e.g. attic rooms), use 4-corner pinching to reshape the image like stretching a photo on your phone. No more crooked projections!
- 【3 Ways to Play: Netflix, Phones, Consoles & More】① Stream ANYTHING: Plug Fire Stick/Roku (not included) into dual HDMI 1.4 ports → Bypass HDCP to watch Netflix/Prime Video/Hulu without blackouts. ② Phone/Cast Screen: Connect iOS/Android via USB + MHL/Lightning adapter (not included) for mirroring. ③ Direct HDMI Play: Hook up laptops, PS5/Xbox, or Blu-ray players instantly. ((NOTE: No WiFi/Bluetooth. HDCP requires TV Stick for streaming apps)
- 【Compact & Portable Projector: Take Cinema Anywhere】Just 7.87*5.91*6.30 inch and weighing only0.86kg (1.9 lbs) .You can take it anywhere with ease, whether you're traveling, hosting an outdoor movie night, or setting up a home theater in any room. Project 45"-200" screens from just 1.25-4m (4-13 ft) – perfect for camping under stars or dorm room marathons.(NOTE: No Battery Included in projector)
- 【5W Theater Sound + Silent 36dB Cooling】This movie projector built-in 5W speaker fills small rooms with clear dialogue (no muffled voices!). Add speaker via 3.5mm jack for outdoor parties – while library-quiet cooling won’t drown out movie whispers. Using the latest temperature control technology, the fan noise is reduced by 80%, and the heat dissipation is more effective. These bring you an immersive sound experience.
Rank #3
Mini Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth,Smart Projector 4K Support Proyector
- 【210° ROTATABLE BASE & CEILING PROJECTION】 Features an integrated 210-degree adjustable stand for effortless wall or ceiling projection without extra tripods. Designed for comfortable bedroom viewing, outdoor camping, and dorm room setups.
- 【DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 & BLUETOOTH 5.4】 Equipped with WiFi 6 for smooth iOS and Android screen mirroring with lower latency. Integrated Bluetooth 5.4 allows easy wireless connection to external speakers or headphones for enhanced audio.
- 【NATIVE 1080P & 4K VIDEO SUPPORT】 Features native 1280x720 resolution with 4K and 1080P decoding support. Delivers a 25-110 inch display with a 50% zoom function and low operation noise under 25dB for a clear visual experience.
- 【AUTO KEYSTONE & MANUAL FOCUS】 Built-in sensors support automatic vertical keystone correction for quick alignment. Features a manual focus wheel and remote-controlled side adjustment for accurate image clarity.
- 【VERSATILE CONNECTIONS & COMPATIBILITY】 Includes HDMI and USB ports for laptops, TV sticks, and consoles. (Note: Due to HDCP copyright rules, screen mirroring for apps like Hulu requires an external TV stick or HDMI connection).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
