Photos: How Solarscope 'sees' the sun
Developed by Light Tec Optical Instruments of Hyeres, France, the Solarscope is designed to allow safe viewing of sun spots and solar eclipses. The $89 "education version," shown here, has a screen big enough for several people to see at once.


1 of 3 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET
Solarscope
Developed by Light Tec Optical Instruments of Hyeres, France, the Solarscope is designed to allow safe viewing of sun spots and solar eclipses. The $89 "education version," shown here, has a screen big enough for several people to see at once. A smaller version of the same device costs $59. Both are constructed of cardboard. A more rugged, wooden version that can be left outdoors permanently is $359.
2 of 3 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET
A peek inside
When the orange tube on the Solarscope is aligned with the sun, sunlight filters through the tube and is then reflected off a lens onto the interior of the device's cardboard frame.
3 of 3 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET
Sunspots
Dark imperfections in the reflected sunlight are sunspots--cooler regions on the sun's surface caused by magnetic disturbances.
Related Galleries
Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
![Holiday lights in Central Park background]()
Related Galleries
Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
![Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park]()
Related Galleries
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
![3D Rendering Christmas interior]()
Related Galleries
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
![img-8825]()
Related Galleries
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
![img-9792-2]()
Related Galleries
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
![shutterstock-1024665187.jpg]()
Related Galleries
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
![Full of promises!]()