If you are on the path of totality, you can take off your glasses during totality. However, please be careful. The sun is only covered for a short time.
ST. LOUIS — We all want to see this celestial phenomenon, but you'll need eclipse glasses to see it safely.
No other eyewear, even the darkest tinted sunglasses, will protect your eyes from the sun's UV rays as well as official eclipse glasses or solar viewers.
Eye damage from the sun can occur within a minute.
Therefore, be sure to check your eclipse glasses for any scratches or holes. Do not use if damaged.
Wear eclipse glasses when the moon does not completely block the sun's rays. In other words, it is the period leading up to the total solar eclipse and just before the total solar eclipse ends.
If you are on the path of totality, you can technically take off your glasses during the totality period. However, please be careful. The sun is only hidden for a few minutes.
Don't look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, or binoculars unless you have a special filter. It's not even safe to view the eclipse while wearing eclipse glasses.
But how do you know that your eclipse glasses are genuine? And is it safe to use an older pair?
We asked Dr. Mark Lalo, a pediatric optometrist at the University of Washington.
“These particular glasses are based on 2015 standards, which means the glass will not expire from that point on,” he added. “There will be a little notation… Look for the letters ISO12312-2.”
One important tip from Dr. Lalo is to always pay close attention to children during the eclipse. Check out these safety tips before heading out to watch an event. That way, you won't have to take off your glasses during the eclipse.
If you're still looking for solar eclipse glasses, check out the list of sellers vetted and compiled by the American Astronomical Society Solar Eclipse Task Force. Here is a list of reliable manufacturers and suppliers of solar eclipse glasses.
If you have eclipse glasses in a location other than these locations, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't work. The AAS Eclipse Task Force states that it is simply impossible to vet every manufacturer and that in most cases these products are ultimately safe.
AAS said one red flag to look out for is glasses that claim to be certified by NASA. NASA acknowledged that it does not certify or recommend any products and that its website has a link to a list of AAS retailers.
If you don't want to view the eclipse directly using solar glasses, you can use another tool. You can make it at home in minutes.
It is called a solar eclipse viewer or pinhole projector.
Here's what you need:
- Box (shoe box is also acceptable)
- small aluminum foil
- white paper
- tape
- Pin or needle (you can also use the sharp end of a pencil)
- scissors or cutter
Step 1: Cut a small hole (about 1 inch in diameter) in one end of the shoe box.
Step 2: Tape aluminum foil over the hole.
Step 3: Use a pin, needle, or pencil to make a hole in the center of the foil.
Step 4: Tape a small piece of white paper to the inside edge of the box, opposite the foil-covered hole. This acts as a projection screen.
Step 5: Drill a 1-inch diameter hole near the foil side of the box. This is your observation hole. It should be positioned so that you can look through it and see the projection screen at the opposite end of the box.
pinhole projector
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has provided a step-by-step guide on how to build a pinhole projector.
Materials needed: 2 sheets of white cardstock, aluminum foil, tape, pins/paper clips, or pencils.
- Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangular hole in the center of one sheet of cardstock.
- Tape aluminum foil over the hole.
- Turn the paper over and use a pin, paperclip, or pencil to poke small holes in the aluminum foil.
- Place the second piece of cardstock on the ground and hold the aluminum foil over it (foil side up). Stand with your back to the sun and look at the image projected onto the cardstock below.
Similar results can be achieved using common household items. Any item with a small hole can be used as an indirect solar eclipse viewer. Use a slotted spoon, colander, or other item with small holes to help track the progress of the eclipse.