Make a solar projector

Practical astronomy projects for every level of expertise

This month’s project is to build a solar projector, which you can use to safely view the Sun. Not only is it easy to operate, but it’s useful for catching sunspot activity, a solar eclipse or a transit event. As it is not safe to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye (or any unfiltered optical equipment), our design keeps your eyes well away from the light path, which is inside an enclosed casing. The image is projected onto a screen