#currently thinking i'll set one into a handheld viewer and the other into some sort of glasses frame or hood

[myothertardisisonthemun]

In just under 20 days, I am flying to Western Australia to see a solar eclipse.

Because it's so dangerous to look at the sun directly, I've been trying out sun viewing equipment.

Got to find something that won't give me a headache, or worse, damage my eyes.

I got these specialised eclipse binoculars a while ago. They're celestron, a mostly respected brand, and have all the right certifications. They are second hand though.

I feel fine after using them, if a little dazzled - sunlight gets in around the sides . I plan to 3d print something to go around them to block that, which hopefully will make them fine to use.

I have since found out that they're only supposed to be used when an eclipse is nearly at totality. So if you're using some yourself, please do your own research rathet than going of just this post

Even then, I'd like a second option.

This is an Aliexpress solar filter designed for my telescope. I don't trust it on the telescope.

Even holding it up to the sun while wearing sunglasses - (despite my eyes collecting a thousandish times less light than the telescope) - after a short time I feel like I've been at the beach all day without sunglasses.

I will not be bringing this to Exmouth.

Next up is the cheap, but more legit cardboard solar glasses from the astronomy shop in the city:

These use the same baader film tech as the filter above.

Despite being from a reputable source, these still feel too bright, and make my eyes feel funny. Even when combined with sunnies.

Just today, this arrived:

This is a pair of shade 14 welding glass lenses - nasa recommended, and the darkest ones I could get my hands on.

They're perfect.

They turn the sun into a much fainter greenish yellow ball.

It is soooo much easier on the eyes than any of the tools I tried above.

Now what I need to do is go and make something to use them in