How To Make Sure Your Solar Eclipse Glasses Are Legit

We're just one week away from one of our solar system's most breathtaking displays. If you wish to fully enjoy the majesty of the celestial spectacle, it's important that you don a pair of safe and effective solar eclipse glasses.

All of North America is gearing up for the 2024 total solar eclipse, the first of its kind in almost seven years.  Here's how to ensure that your solar eclipse glasses are the real deal.

Eye safety is extremely critical during full or even partial eclipses. NASA has stressed the importance of wearing proper eyewear during the event, advising against the usage of regular sunglasses. While they do provide a darker tint, your run-of-the-mill shades are not equipped to provide any adequate protection from the sun's intensity during the eclipse.

NASA also advises against viewing the sun through camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes with special-purpose solar filters properly secured, as this can cause immediate eye injury.

According to the American Astronomical Society (AAS), it's important to check the label on your pair of eclipse-viewing glasses. It used to be that any legit pair of glasses would be labeled with ISO 12312-2 compliance, which denoted proper filtering for direct viewing of the sun.

However, it's come to light in recent years that some manufacturers would include the ISO label on sunglasses even if they hadn't been properly inspected to comply with the necessary safety measures. How ironically shady, right?

In response to his revelation, the AAS instead recommends that you check their official list of safe viewer and filter suppliers to guarantee the quality of your glasses. NASA has no official endorsement of any particular brand, but that list should help you pick a safe, AAS approved pair of viewers.

While there's no way to tell whether your glasses are legit or not just by looking at them, there are easy ways for you to test out their effectiveness before the full solar eclipse next week. The AAS recommends putting them on indoors first. Ideally you shouldn't be able to see anything through them except for the brightest of light sources in your home. Even then the lights should still be extremely faint through the filters.

If the shades work that well inside, then you should wear them outside on a sunny day and look around once more. The only light source that should be getting through from there is the sun's rays reflecting off a shiny surface.

If the glasses continue to work from there, the third and final test is to, ever so briefly, look directly at the sun while wearing them. If the glasses are actually safe then you should be able to see the sun as a round disk.

If your solar eclipse glasses pass all three of these tests, then they are more than likely safe to use for the big day on April 8. As always with events like these, however, respect the sun's power and understand the human eyeball's limits when it comes to bright lights. Practice caution and only use certified, high-quality filters and viewers for the 2024 total solar eclipse!

For the first time in nearly seven years, a total solar eclipse is once again coming through North America! The eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, which gives North Carolina residents time to prepare for the festivities. Many viewing parties are scheduled throughout the state on the day of the celestial phenomenon, so let's take a look at these places you can enjoy the solar eclipse in North Carolina.

For those who don't know, a solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and the earth. According to NASA this year's total solar eclipse will be the last one to go through the United States until 2044. While North Carolina won't be in the "path of totality" (any location where the moon completely covers the face of the sun), the Tar Heel state will still be able to enjoy a breathtaking partial eclipse around 2:00 that afternoon.

In an interview with Public Radio East, Dr. Patrick Treuthardt of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences explained what NC sky-watchers could expect to see on April 8. "The moon is going to obscure about 75% of the disk of the sun, so it's going to look like a large bite has been taken out of the sun by the moon."

Dr. Treuthardt also stressed the importance of proper safety precautions for the eclipse, urging everyone to come equipped with special eclipse-friendly eyewear. It's very dangerous to look at the sun for an extended period of time because it can burn your retina," he said, "so you do want to be careful and you do want to make sure that these eclipse glasses that you get are good."

NASA is also urging people to be safe and responsible while viewing the eclipse. Reminder: eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses. You can find safe and effective solar viewers and filters here.

As expected, many locations throughout North Carolina are holding safe solar eclipse viewing parties that day. Here are a few that you and the family can go to safely enjoy one of nature's most thrilling spectacles:

https://www.uncfsu.edu/about-fsu/community/planetarium

FSU will have several telescopes available to view the eclipse from 2:00 - 4:30, including their brand new 70 mm solar H-alpha telescope! This free event is for the entire community. There will be a limited number of Eclipse Glasses for sale during the event.

NC State is holding a viewing party at the Witherspoon Student Center in Raleigh on April 8. Solar eclipse glasses will be provided if you don't have your own pair. This event is free and open to the public.

Discovery Place Science in Charlotte NC is celebrating the solar eclipse for an entire week before it actually passes through. The week of workshops and fun activities will start April 1 and end on the 8th with a viewing atop the museum's parking deck. The museum will also feature a live stream of the eclipse's totality in their IMAX theatre.

https://www.wake.gov/events/solar-eclipse-viewing-party-april-8th-2024-0230pm

All ages, adults and youth, are invited to join the Wake County government April 8 at the Duraleigh Road Community Library. There will be eclipse trivia, eclipse fun, and a viewing of the rare event! Eclipse glasses will be provided. Registration is requested.

The North Carolina Science Festival is holding a statewide Star Party across many counties throughout the Tar Heel state. These events will run between April 5-8, with many educational opportunities for those who wish to learn more about the cosmos. Click here to find a Star Party close to you.