How to Safely View a Solar Eclipse

Why You Need to Protect Your Eyes

A total solar eclipse is a rare and stunning sight, but it's important to view it safely. The only time it's safe to look directly at the sun is during the totality of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun's light. Any other time, including during a partial solar eclipse, looking at the sun without protection can cause eye damage and even blindness.

During the 2017 total solar eclipse, a young woman suffered from solar retinopathy, which is retinal damage from exposure to solar radiation. She had used eclipse glasses that were not held to the safety standard. Solar retinopathy has no cure and can result in a permanent loss of vision.

To ensure your eyes are protected, it's essential to use certified eclipse glasses, solar viewers, or other safe viewing methods.

Using Certified Eclipse Glasses and Solar Viewers

When viewing a solar eclipse, it is crucial to wear certified eclipse glasses or use a handheld solar viewer. Eclipse glasses and viewers are 100,000 times darker than sunglasses and are specifically designed to block nearly all visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light.

Make sure to obtain certified ISO 12312-2 compliant solar eclipse glasses, which can be purchased online from safe sellers. These glasses are made with lenses that are made of black polymer or resin infused with carbon particles. They meet international safety standards and provide the necessary protection for your eyes while viewing the sun during a solar eclipse.

Other Safe Viewing Methods

If you don't have access to certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers, there are other safe viewing methods available. You can create a pinhole projector using an index card or any object with a small hole. Stand with your back to the sun and hold up the card, allowing the pinhole to project an image of the crescent or ring-shaped sun onto the ground or a surface.

Additionally, you can use everyday items like colanders, straw hats, or your hands to create a waffle pattern by spacing out your fingers and crossing them over each other. The small spaces between your fingers will reflect the sun's crescent during a partial eclipse or a ring during an annular eclipse.

Avoid looking directly at the sun through any unfiltered optical devices, such as binoculars, telescopes, or camera lenses, even when wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer. The concentrated solar rays can still cause severe eye damage through the filter and should be avoided.