Solar Eclipse Binoculars Projector - Safe Viewing

K.I.S.S. DIY Quick and Easy projection method using binoculars. Can be used with a tripod or handheld. The projected image is many times larger than what will be seen with viewing glasses. * * * DO NOT look directly at the sun with binoculars * * *

[@sghantous]

Perfect for April 8th 2024. Thank you.
I see a sunspot off center with either side of my binoculars.

[@Vancer1111]

I wish I saw this yesterday! Thanks...gotta run and make it in the next hour!

[@Timmy2Hands]

Thanks so much, I got Grandpa's old binoculars out and set up and this worked so well, I was able to get some great pictures of the projection.

[@mekrieger]

Just tried this in Boston and it worked great. Thanks for posting!

[@NJEsperantist]

Thanks, Ron. Even handheld this works better than a pinhole projector!

[@lindacejka2676]

Worked great. Followed instructions and just got some great shadow views of the eclipse.

[@MaxSnelling47]

Simple and I like the hands-free shade.

[@imranabbas854]

Worked great today! Thanks for the quick and easy guide.

[@mayrafranco1274]

Thank you for this! I am watching now with this help!

[@leled894]

Thanks so much I've got binnocular's from cloud watching. I didn't know I could do it this way, awesome. I've got cardboard and printer paper aplenty.

[@woodywoodworkerfuller9921]

Nice !!!!

[@maximilianocienfuegos237]

Perfect 😃😃

[@dorvinion]

A day late and a dollar short, but anyways, a word of caution regarding this method.
The thing I don't like about this method is that projecting the unfiltered sun through the binoculars will, depending on how long you are projecting, collect a fair amount of heat from the sun which could damage the binoculars. Everyone remembers starting fires, or burning ants, or whatever else was handy with a magnifying glass. Same thing going on here.
The common 10x50mm binoculars are going to collect a little over 3 sq in (7.7 sq cm) of light, and project it through the eyepiece which has around 0.35 sq in (0.89 sq cm) of surface area. That's a fair amount of light concentrated in a small area, so you begin to see the potential issue.
Placing a cardboard mask with a smaller hole in it in front of the main lens should mitigate this. The projected image will not be as bright because less light is being collected, but it should not be reduced in visible size.

[@RonaldWalters2010]

It was out in the sun for a little over 3 hours and did not seem to hurt anything although this pair of binoculars is made of metal (purchased around 1973) and the lenses have a good deal of fungus. I wondered how hot it would get and felt the binoculars a few times during the event. I played around with it the other day to see if it would project a focal point hot enough to burn something, without success. Removing the objective lens would be a better approach for starting a fire. This poor old pair of binoculars has been neglected a long time in storage and needs to be taken apart and cleaned. Thanks for watching!

[@Nordraw]

What? Something cheap from Harbor Freight ? When did that happen?

[@2005ando]

Hey what tripod are you using?

[@RonaldWalters2010]

That is a heavy duty Linhof Camera Tripod, made in Germany and purchased back in late 70's when I lived in Singapore.

[@maheshjayakumar569]

It's happening today