Tool walkthrough · 0:55 · silent, with on-screen words
A walkthrough of the Solar Pinhole Camera from Georgetown in June, recorded from the real simulator: aim the can east, turn it north and tilt it up, and watch the Sun trails on the paper.
A silent walkthrough recorded from the real Solar Pinhole Camera simulator on this site, with the cursor and on-screen words showing each step.
With the default Monster (16 oz / 473 ml) can at Georgetown and a 7-day exposure from 2027-06-15, facing east at 0° tilt puts 154 of 539 sun samples on the paper (29%). Turned to face north at 0° tilt: 375 of 539 sun samples (70%). Facing north and tilted 45° up: 525 of 539 sun samples (97%). In June the Sun passes north of overhead at Georgetown, so a north-facing, upward-tilted can keeps nearly the whole day.
0:00 The Solar Pinhole Camera shows where the Sun’s trails will land on the paper in your can, before you build it.
0:04 On the left: the container, the pinhole and the paper, then the place and the exposure. Here, a Monster (16 oz / 473 ml) can at Georgetown, 7 days from Tue 15 Jun 2027.
0:10 Facing east at 0° tilt, the paper catches only the low morning Sun: 154 of 539 sun samples, 29% of them.
0:19 In June the Sun passes north of overhead at Georgetown. Turn the compass a degree at a time to face north (0°).
0:33 Facing north at 0° tilt: 375 of 539 sun samples land, 70% of them.
0:38 Now tilt the bore 45° up, as a cork or wedge under the back of the can would.
0:45 North and 45° up, nearly the whole day lands: 525 of 539 sun samples, 97% of them.
0:51 Aim with a compass, tilt for the season, and mount the can where nothing shades it.