As the total solar eclipse, occurring across Mexico, the United States and Canada on April 8, draws near, experts are reminding spectators to grab a pair of eclipse glasses to view the celestial event safely — and to make sure they aren’t fake.
Counterfeit eclipse glasses are “polluting the marketplace,” according to a release shared by the American Astronomical Society, or AAS.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun’s face from view for a few moments. About 32 million people in the US live within the 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) path of totality, or locations where the moon will appear to completely cover the sun and the lunar shadow falls on the Earth’s surface. People outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse in which the moon only blocks part of the sun’s face.
“There’s no way to tell just by looking at them whether eclipse glasses are genuinely safe,” Fienberg said, “but it’s easy to tell if they are not safe.”
Try on the glasses indoors first. Nothing should be visible through the lenses, and even the brightest lights should only appear very faintly. If furnishings or wall decor are visible through the lenses, these glasses aren’t safe to view the sun.
But if the glasses pass the indoor test, the AAS recommends putting them on outside during a sunny day and looking around. Again, nothing should be visible through the lenses, unless the sun is reflecting off an exceptionally shiny surface, and even then the light will appear faint if the glasses are safe.
If the glasses pass that second test, try looking at the sun through them for less than a second. If the glasses are safe, the sun will appear comfortably bright and likely white, yellow, orange or bluish white.
thank you
I had working glasses that made the sun look neon green too.
I would still be worried that if you don’t but from a reputable source, the glasses may only block visible light and seem fine when they may not be blocking dangerous UV light.
What an awful thing to do to people.
It’s the perfect crime. The victims will never be able to identify you!
Removed by mod
Dont even joke about that. I dont want them harmed. I want them to stop harming others.
Let’s not prey on ignorance. There’s enough of that going around.
Heres how you can tell
You can tell next day when you’re blind
II bought mine from a welding supply store. SO i know they are good and they will last longer.
They have to ALSO block UV light. Solar glasses are specifically designed to block all dangerous wavelengths not just visible light. Just make sure it blocks all needed wavelengths.
I believe welding arcs are pretty much the same thing as the sun. It definitely puts off UV light and the welding glass will block it. Welding glass is perfectly safe.
The next total solar eclipse that is visible from the US is in 20 years.
Edit: I’m aware of April 8, but if you aren’t prepped for that one by now, good luck.
There’s one coming up on April 08, 2024
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/
I’m aware, and most, if they haven’t prepared, will have to wait.
A ton of people live in the path of totality. Like double the 2017 eclipse. 30 million or something? Plus it’s within a few hours of massive population centers. So there’s plenty of people who should be aware of this issue.
And those who are only just now learning and trying to get glasses are probably going to find a shortage.
I bought my glasses 11 months ago when I made my plane and hotel reservations. Last minute people are gonna get fucked by these asshole scam artists.
But the main point of my original post is that if you miss this one, we have 2 whole ass decades before the next, so be aware.
It’s ~2 weeks away. That’s plenty of time for plenty of people.
9 days
Ok, still.
Not if they can’t find the glasses. Reputable sellers are getting backordered, leaving fake glasses to fill the void.
