Do solar eclipse glasses work!?

Yes, solar eclipse glasses do work and are crucial for safely observing a solar eclipse. 

Here's how they function: Solar eclipse glasses are designed with extra-dark shades that block almost all light, protecting your retinas from damage while you observe the sun. This protection is extremely important because looking directly at the sun without protection can permanently damage the eye within a matter of seconds.

Eclipse glasses work by using solar filters to significantly reduce the intensity of the sun’s light. They are at least 1,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses. No more than 0.00032 percent of the sun’s visible light can get through a proper solar filter.

It's important to note that regular sunglasses, or any part of the bright sun viewed through camera lenses, binoculars, and telescopes without a specialized solar filter, could instantly cause severe eye injury. Therefore, it's recommended to use specialized eyewear crafted to protect your sensitive retinas from permanent damage when looking at the sun.

So, even after the hype of a solar eclipse event, these glasses remain an essential tool for safely observing any future solar eclipses. However, always ensure that your glasses are in good condition and meet the safety standards. If you're unsure, it's best to get new ones.

To reiterate, Solar eclipses are one of nature's most awe-inspiring events. To witness this celestial spectacle safely, it's crucial to use solar eclipse glasses. But what makes these glasses so special? How do they work? And how can you ensure that your glasses are safe to use? This blog post answers all these questions and more.

Ensuring the Safety of Your Solar Eclipse Glasses

To ensure that your solar eclipse glasses are safe to use, you can follow these steps:

1. Check for ISO Certification: Real and safe pair of solar eclipse glasses should be labeled with ISO 12312-2 (sometimes written in more detail as ISO 12312-2:2015), which is an international safety standard. This standard denotes that the glasses reduce visible sunlight to safe levels and block UV and IR radiation.

2. Buy from a Reputable Source: Make sure you get your eclipse viewers from a reputable source. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) has a list of vetted suppliers of safe solar viewers and filters.

3. Inspect the Glasses: Make sure that the lenses aren’t scratched, torn, or punctured, and that they aren’t coming loose from the cardboard frame. If your solar eclipse glasses are in poor condition, don’t use them.

4. Test the Glasses: You can test the glasses by trying to look at a bright lightbulb or LED flashlight. If the glasses are working correctly, you shouldn't be able to see the light source.

 Common Signs of Unsafe Eclipse Glasses

Unsafe solar eclipse glasses can have several signs:

1. Lack of ISO Certification: If the glasses are not labeled with ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015, they may not meet the international safety standard.

2. Poor Quality: If the lenses are scratched, torn, punctured, or coming loose from the cardboard frame, the glasses are unsafe.

3. Inadequate Darkness: Safe solar viewers block all but a minuscule fraction of the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) light. If you can see light behind a lamp shade or a soft, frosted light bulb through the glasses, then these glasses aren't strong enough to stare safely at the sun.

 Disposing of Old or Unsafe Eclipse Glasses

There are several ways to dispose of old or unsafe solar eclipse glasses:

1. Recycle: You can recycle the cardboard frames of the glasses. However, the lenses are not recyclable and should be disposed of in regular trash.

2. Donate: If your glasses are still in good condition, you can donate them. Organizations like Astronomers Without Borders collect gently-used eclipse glasses and redistribute them to people in other countries for upcoming eclipses.

3. Reuse: If your glasses are in good condition and meet the safety standards, you can keep them for future solar eclipses. However, ensure they are stored in a place where they won't be scratched or damaged.

Storing Your Solar Eclipse Glasses for Future Use

Storing your solar eclipse glasses properly can ensure they remain safe for future use. Here are some tips:

1. Choose the Right Environment: Store your glasses in a place with a stable temperature. Avoid places with high humidity or extreme temperatures, as these conditions can degrade the protective filters.

2. Use a Protective Case: A hard-case storage solution can protect the glasses from physical damage. Most eclipse glasses come with a protective sleeve. It’s not just for show! Slide them back in there after use. It’ll protect them from scratches, dust, and any curious pets or kiddos.

3. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight can degrade the solar filters over time. Therefore, store your glasses in a dark, protected dry area, like an envelope in your dresser.

4. Stay Flat: Always store your glasses flat. This prevents them from bending or folding, which could damage the lenses.

5. Long-Term Storage: If you're planning to store your glasses for a long time, inspect them before each use. Even a small scratch can be enough to allow harmful sunlight to pass through.

Proper care and storage of your eclipse glasses can ensure a safe and enjoyable eclipse viewing experience. If you see that there's no pinholes, no scratches, no tears, no rips, no delamination of the lenses or any other obvious damage, they're almost certainly OK. There are several common mistakes people make when storing their eclipse glasses.

1. Storing Near Chemicals or Solvents: Storing the glasses near chemicals or solvents can degrade the lenses or the filters.

2. Storing Multiple Pairs Together: If multiple pairs are stored together, they can rub against each other, which could cause scratches.

3. Exposing to Direct Sunlight and Heat: Storing the glasses in direct sunlight and heat can degrade the solar filter material over time.

4. Storing in a Humid Environment: Storing the glasses in a humid environment can degrade the lenses over time.

5. Folding or Putting Heavy Stuff on Top: Folding the glasses or putting heavy stuff on top can damage the lenses or create creases.

6. Not Using a Desiccant: Not using a desiccant, like silica gel packets, to control moisture in the storage area can lead to moisture damage.

The safety standards for solar eclipse glasses are primarily defined by the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. For your safety, it's recommended that you avoid any solar viewer that doesn't meet the requirements of the standard. Here are some key points about this standard:

1. ISO 12312-2 Standard: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed this standard specifically for filters for direct observation of the sun. It was adopted in 2015 and affirmed in 2020.

2. Safety Requirements: The standard specifies that a solar viewer should protect your eyes from injury and provide a comfortable view. It requires that the glasses block nearly all visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light to protect our sensitive retinas when looking skyward.

3. Darkness Level: Compared to regular sunglasses, proper eclipse glasses are 100,000 times darker. This is to ensure that only a minuscule fraction of the Sun’s light reaches your eye.

4. Material: Often made with a polyester film coated in aluminum, the glasses are highly specialized.

5. Certification: Genuine eclipse glasses must meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. This standard determines the specific criteria for safe eclipse viewing.

6. Legality: ISO standards are not laws, though governments sometimes base laws on ISO standards. This means it is not necessarily illegal for a product to fail to meet the requirements of an ISO standard. But it may be inadvisable to buy or use such a product, as failure to meet the requirements of an applicable standard likely means the product is not genuinely safe, not well suited to its purpose, or both.

In conclusion, Solar eclipse glasses are an essential tool for safely observing a solar eclipse. By understanding how they work and how to ensure their safety, you can enjoy the awe-inspiring spectacle of a solar eclipse without risking your eyesight. Always remember, safety is paramount when observing a solar eclipse. Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.