Solar eclipse glasses from B&H Photo, GreatAmericanEclipse.com, Spectrum Telescope and Agena Astro Credit – Illustration – TIME
J.Mars is so excited about the upcoming solar eclipse that he purchased 1,200 branded solar eclipse glasses for his clients and friends.
“Man, that was definitely one of those things you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” says the 58-year-old real estate agent from Collierville, Tenn., who witnessed the first total solar eclipse in 2017. next [solar eclipse] He was returning home from there. I saw it [my brother’s ranch] “I was going to be in the middle of totality, and I called him and said, ‘I hope you’re really enjoying your farm, because you’ve got to take care of it until then.'”
However, it is important where you buy your glasses before the April 8 eclipse. Unsafe eclipse glasses were a major issue in 2017, prompting online retailers like Amazon to issue refunds and lawsuits from customers who purchased unsafe glasses. (The case was later dismissed in court.)
Here’s everything you need to know about how to buy solar eclipse glasses, how to get them for free, and how to avoid fakes.
How to buy safe solar eclipse glasses?
Before purchasing solar eclipse glasses or viewers, be sure to check that the items come from the American Astronomical Society’s (AAS) list of trusted vendors. Although AAS has previously issued a press release stating that most eclipse lenses are safe to use, the group recently discovered a pair of counterfeit glasses that do not meet ISO 12312-2 standards, which determine how much ultraviolet and infrared light can be transmitted by sunglasses. filters.
“It’s unwise to go on Amazon, Etsy, eBay or Google and search for eclipse glasses and buy whatever comes up,” says Richard Fienberg, project manager for the American Astronomical Society’s Solar Eclipse Task Force. “There are companies that sell Eclipse glasses fraudulently. The two most likely fraudulent claims are that the glasses have not actually been properly tested and shown to be safe, or that information is printed stating that the glasses are made in China but not in America.” Where the glasses are manufactured is important because the glasses must be tested with special equipment in an accredited laboratory.
As part of the Solar Eclipse Task Force, Fienberg reviews companies’ test reports and verifies their distributors, as well as performing a number of other checks before adding them to the AAS list. (The list is not comprehensive, so there may be other sellers where it is safe to buy from.)
“If you see a company that claims to be on the AAS list, and then you look at the AAS list and it’s not on the list, that should tell you something,” says Feinberg. “They could have been on this list in 2017, too. But we deleted the list and started from scratch a few years ago.”
Amazon tells TIME that all eclipse glasses they sell must be ISO compliant and come from the AAS list. “We continually monitor our store, and if we find that a product is not detected by our automated controls, we immediately address the issue and refine our controls. An Amazon spokesperson said: “We are working closely with our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers and government agencies for additional information when appropriate. “We are taking action to ensure a safe election for our citizens,” he said.
How to test faulty Eclipse glasses
Given the unreliable market, Fienberg recommends customers test the Eclipse glasses before April 8 to make sure they have a safe pair. To do this, he says, you must first wear eclipse glasses at home. If you can see the room and objects around you, it means that your glasses are not dark enough and are not protecting you sufficiently from the sun.
“There are a few really bright lights that you can see through, like an old incandescent bulb, you can see the filament, [or] “If you have a halogen bulb,” Fienberg says. “If you can’t see anything when you look through them, then you can actually go outside and look at the sun really quickly and probably see that the view is good, it’s sharp, it’s not too bright, it’s not too dim. Then you should be pretty sure they’re safe.”
How to get free Eclipse glasses?
The STAR Library Network distributes five million eclipse glasses to more than 13,000 U.S. public libraries, according to AAS. Interested users should check with their local library to see if they have any free pairs, and they can also check possible locations using this map.
MyEyeDr. Some optometry offices, including , are giving away free solar eclipse glasses at certain locations. Warby Parker will also offer free pairs at all stores starting April 1.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the state will be giving away free, limited-edition “I Love NY” eclipse glasses at 30 locations. You can check the distribution centers here. You should also check if your local town or city offers free glasses. For example, residents of New York’s Chautauqua County can purchase glasses from a variety of places.
You can also wear some at your local watch party. Republic Square in Austin, Texas, is giving away free solar eclipse viewers to the first 200 guests in attendance.
When should you use Eclipse glasses?
You will be able to see the eclipse with your naked eyes when the Moon completely covers the Sun or reaches totality, but you should use eclipse glasses or trackers during the partial phases of the eclipse. This means that your eyes need some form of protection for about an hour before the eclipse and for about an hour after the eclipse.
Those outside the path of totality (the approximately 185-mile-wide path where the total solar eclipse will be visible in 14 states) will have to use protection throughout the entire event, Fienberg says.
Fienberg says people can use eclipse glasses with their contact lenses or prescription glasses, but they shouldn’t use any other objects to get a closer look at the sun. “It’s dangerous to put on a pair of eclipse glasses and then get a pair of binoculars to look at them,” he says. “If you do this, the extra light-gathering power of the large front lenses on your binoculars will collect so much light that it will burn the sun filter and your eye.”
Can you use old eclipse glasses?
If you have eclipse glasses from previous solar eclipses that crossed the US in 2017 and 2023, they will still be safe to use in 2024., Fienberg says.
However, the AAS recommends people inspect their old lenses for any holes, tears, scratches or other damage. Old solar eclipse glasses can only be used if they are in good condition and the lenses have not separated from the frame or show any other problems.
But what if you don’t have eclipse glasses?
Those who do not have Eclipse glasses can also have an enjoyable viewing experience using pinhole projection. You can find instructions on how to make a pinhole projector here.
Correction, March 20
The original version of this story misstated the type of MyEyeDr service. provides. They are optometrists, not ophthalmologists.
Contact us at letters@time.com.