Eclipse Glasses FAQs
We are still a few months out from the total solar eclipse passing over Evansville on April 8th, 2024, but you may already be seeing quite a bit of excitement starting to build around town. Along with that excitement, may come a bit of confusion, particularly when it comes to the types of eyewear that are safe to use during a solar eclipse. In this blog post, I want to take a moment to address common questions and discuss safe eclipse eyewear so that you can be prepared for the total solar eclipse in just a few months.
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A: No. Regular sunglasses only block a small percentage of the harmful light emitted from the sun. Eclipse glasses are about 100,000 times darker than sunglasses, and block nearly all visible light. They also block all ultraviolet and infrared light, keeping your eyes safe.
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A: No. Eclipse glasses from 2017 have likely been sitting in your junk drawer for 7 years. During this time, they were almost certainly bent, scratched, or cracked. Any tiny imperfection means that light can penetrate the lenses and reach your eye, rendering them ineffective. Even if your eclipse glasses have been well cared for in a scrapbook or envelope, they still likely expired well before 2024. Using expired glasses is not recommended and can cause permanent eye damage.
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A: Yes, shade #14 welding goggles are safe, with a caveat. Shade #14 welding goggles are uncommon. Most welding goggles have shade numbers less than 14. If you have welding goggles lying around and want to use them for the eclipse, make sure that you check the number of the filter to ensure that they are safe. If you do choose to use welding goggles, know that many people report that welding goggles give the Sun a sickly green color, instead of its more natural yellow/orange. Keep this in mind for your viewing experience.
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A: Legitimate eclipse glasses are rigorously tested to ensure that they are safe to use. The International Organization for Standardization certifies safe glasses and marks them with “ISO 12312-2”, the safety standard identification number. Unfortunately, illegitimate glasses manufacturers can mark unsafe glasses with this standard number and sell them online with virtually no consequences. Many of the glasses you find on Amazon are illegitimately marked. The only way to be sure you are purchasing a safe product is to purchase it through a reputable dealers. The American Astronomical Society has compiled a list of reputable vendors that can be found here: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
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A: Yes! Many places across town are offering safe and affordable eclipse glasses, including your very own Evansville Museum! Stop by our gift shop to pick up your pair. Our custom glasses were produced by Rainbow Symphony, an ISO certified and AAS approved manufacturer. Check out this list compiled by Explore Evansville for other locations selling eclipse glasses: https://www.exploreevansville.com/eclipse/news-info/where-to-buy-eclipse-glasses/
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A: Yay! You have your eclipse glasses in hand and you are excited for April! But how can you be 100% sure your glasses will keep you safe? When you put the glasses on, you should see absolutely nothing through the lenses. To test this, turn on a household lamp and look directly at it. You should see blackness. Need further proof? Turn on your phone’s flashlight, put your glasses on, and stare directly into the flashlight. Once again, you should see blackness. Now take your glasses outside on a clear day. Put them on and look up towards the sun. You should see a warm glowing ball that doesn’t hurt your eyes to look at.
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A: The best way to keep your glasses crack, scratch, and puncture free is to store them in an envelope in a safe location until the day of the eclipse. Somewhere like a filing cabinet or a bookshelf are great options.