On August 21st the U.S. will experience a rare phenomenon, a nationwide solar eclipse. Because this upcoming one can be seen from the east coast all the way to the west, millions of Americans will view it.
Obviously you cannot stare directly into the sun, even during an eclipse, without doing permanent damage to your eyes. Special sunglasses with solar filters are required. These glasses, covered in an opaque polymer film embedded with carbon powder, are so dark that they admit no light at all unless you’re staring into the sun; everything else is pitch black. And despite the fancy material, these glasses aren’t expensive, with prices ranging from 99 cents (with paper frames) to $30 (plastic frames).
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Unfortunately, as Reuters reports, the market has become flooded with manufacturers selling fakes.
“It’s a bunch of unscrupulous people cashing in on the eclipse and putting public safety at risk,” said Richard Fienberg, press officer for the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
Staring at the sun without proper filtration, even when it is partially obscured by the moon during an eclipse, can damage or destroy photo-receptor cells of the eye’s retina, leaving blind spots in a person’s field of vision, experts said.
To combat this, the AAS has put together a list of brands and suppliers that they know are legit. “If a supplier isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean its products are unsafe — only that we have no knowledge of them or that we haven’t convinced ourselves they are safe,” the AAS writes.
“Eclipse Glasses” & Handheld Viewers
Solar Viewer Brands
American Paper Optics (Eclipser) / EclipseGlasses.com / 3dglassesonline.com
APM Telescopes (Sunfilter Glasses)*
Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold Film)* [see note]
Celestron (EclipSmart Glasses & Viewers)
Explore Scientific (Solar Eclipse Sun Catcher Glasses)
Lunt Solar Systems (SUNsafe SUNglasses) [see their unique kid-size eclipse glasses]
Meade Instruments (EclipseView Glasses & Viewers)
Rainbow Symphony (Eclipse Shades)
Seymour Solar (Helios Glasses)
Thousand Oaks Optical (Silver-Black Polymer & SolarLite)
*Based outside the United States.
Astronomy, Science & Optics Vendors
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Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomy Magazine / My Science Shop
Astrozap Telescopes & Accessories
Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
Discover Magazine / My Science Shop
Lire la Nature & Astronomie Plus
Ontario Telescope & Accessories
Sky & Telescope Magazine / Shop at Sky
Space Racers / AugustEclipse.com
Woodland Hills Camera & Telescopes
Retail Chains Where You Can Buy In-Store Only (Not on Their Websites)
McDonald’s (Oregon only)
REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.)
Online & Other Vendors
Solar Eclipse Spectacles (paper glasses only)
Free
The AAS also reports that NASA, Astronomers Without Borders and some libraries are giving away safe solar eclipse glasses for free. Click here and scroll down for details.
Our thanks to AAS for taking the time to put this list together!
Source: core77