How to view the solar eclipse without glasses

So you've joined the rest of the country in celebrating today's solar eclipse, but you don't have the specially made eclipse glasses to safely take in the celestial event.

Whatever you do, don't stare directly into the sun. Eclipse blindness — damage to the retina through solar radiation — is real and can happen within seconds of peering into the great fiery orb.

The truth is you shouldn't feel bad about not having the proper eyewear — there's been a run on eclipse glasses nationwide — but there are options.

You can make this do-it-yourself eclipse viewer out of a cardboard box, aluminum foil, tape and white paper. The contraption allows you to safely view the eclipse. You'll just have to wear the box on your head.

There's also this more simplified version that only requires a card, a blank piece of paper and thumb tack.

If you feel unable to MacGuyver your way out of this one, you can always catch the eclipse online or on television, especially if you aren't in the path of totality. 

We here at USA TODAY will be streaming live from locations along the path of totality on Instagram. 

NASA TV, the Science Channel and the Weather Channel all will show the eclipse from various points across the country. NASA is offering a unique perspective by sending 57 high altitude balloons into the air and live streaming the vantage point to eclipse.stream.live.

Here's a friendly reminder that the eclipse starts at 9:05 a.m. PT in Oregon with the last glimpse coming at 4:10 p.m. in Charleston, S.C. To find out when you should head outside, no matter where you live, just type your zip code here.

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman