Solar-Eclipse Glasses On Amazon May Not Meet NASA's Safety Requirements (qz.com) 131
For those planning to watch the solar eclipse on August 21st, you're going to want to make sure you have some specialized, ultra-dark glasses to see safely, especially if you're not in the "path of totality." If you're on the hunt for said glasses, please be on the lookout to make sure you buy glasses that meet NASA's safety standards. Quartz is reporting that there are many "fly-by-night manufacturers looking to turn a quick profit by selling subpar and potentially dangerous goods to unsuspecting Americans." From the report: The first stop for most seeking a pair of eclipse glasses is likely to be Amazon, where there are literally thousands of listings for the devices, ranging in materials from cardboard to bronze. I, too, went on Amazon to scout out a pair. I picked more or less at random: I chose a cheap pack of 10 cardboard glasses with five different designs, at least two of which were not garishly jingoistic. About a week after I bought them, I had a thought: Maybe I should double-check to make sure they met safety standards set by the scientific community. Next stop: NASA. NASA, of course, has a website dedicated to the 2017 eclipse, and on it, they have a section dedicated to eclipse-viewing safety. The site says that eclipse-viewing glasses must meet a few basic criteria: Have ISO 12312-2 certification (that is, having been certified as passing a particular set of tests set forth by the International Organization of Standardization); Have the manufacturer's name and address printed somewhere on the product; Not be older than three years, or have scratched or wrinkled lenses.
Welding helmet (Score:1)
Works well.
Re:Welding helmet (Score:5, Funny)
I do the same thing; it's designed to protect against the exact same thing (light emitted by a hot plasma, containing blinding amounts of UV and excessive visible and IR). The main downside is it makes you look like a weirdo when you're standing around in public looking at the sun with a welding helmet on ;)
I guess if you want to go hardcore, you could have the welder with you and act like you're trying to weld the sun. Then people will stop seeing you as a weirdo and just think that you're high instead. ;)
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Alternatives to a Welding helmet (Score:5, Informative)
4 bucks at Northern tool for just the glass, 4 bucks for welding goggles at Harbor Freight or 5 bucks for a flimsy paper pair of glasses. Going with the welding goggles.
And can re-use them later as a Steampunk Costume Prop. . .
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If you go with the welding goggles, you'll be sorry. They're not designed for that bright of light. For gas welding, they're great. Use them all the time. They're better than sun glasses, not good enough for the job of looking at the eclipse.
Protect your sight. Always use safety glasses, always use the proper filters. Once your sight is gone, it's gone.
Use Number 14 welding glass (Score:5, Informative)
Yes a piece of welding glass works great but make sure you use at least a #14 glass per NASA recommendations [nasa.gov]. This is widely available through welding supply companies. Not all welding eye protection is adequate for looking at the Sun.
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Be sure to use a lens for _arc_ welding not gas welding.
Floppy (Score:1)
Easy!
Just use the Disk inside a regular 5 1/4 Floppy .
If you don't have one handy, use a 8" one instead.
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The first solar eclipse I remember seeing, there were no solar eclipse glasses.
The newspapers told us to soot a piece glass with a kerosene lamp.
Re:Floppy (Score:4, Informative)
Do not do either of these.
A floppy disk has only marginal IR protection, and blurs the image heavily.
Soot works if you deposit it at the right thickness, but it's easy to get the thickness wrong, and the slightest smudge can eliminate your protection; the coating is very fragile.
A common third trick is looking through CDs. Which can work, if you pick the right one, but their transparency varies dramatically, so there's no guarantee that an arbitrary one will offer sufficient protection. If you're willing to risk your eyes with an improvised filter, a CD should be good if you can barely see an incandescent bulb through it.
Photography filters and photographic film should never be used for looking at the sun. They don't block nearly enough IR.
More info about various homemade and professional filters tested here [mreclipse.com].
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Well, I have watched a moon eclipse with my regular sun glasses and my eyes feel just fine so, I assume I will be fine watching the sun eclipse with my regular sun glasses.
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My first solar eclipse I watched in a pail of water. The reflection.
sounds like a racket though. (Score:3)
look, you could buy a pre certified glass, put it on some cardboard and not meet the requirements. it might pass the safety requirements though as a device, if it was put into them, but the short blurb makes it like they wouldn't.
besides than that what you will find is ISO 12312-2 "compliant".
oh the days of just using smoked glass.
the device might pass the safety checks - it just doesnt have the paperwork... that doesnt mean that it will make you blind.
Re: sounds like a racket though. (Score:3)
And you're willing to bet your eyesight on a random eBay seller's word that it "would" pass the tests and is totally safe?
Re: sounds like a racket though. (Score:5, Informative)
Looking at the sun hurts. People glance and look away.
Looking at the sun through a bad filter that does not block UV does not hurt. People look and keep on looking. Then days, weeks or months later they find they have huge blind spots in their vision which spread outward over time and far to often are permanent.
Please, be careful with your incomplete advice.
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Well then, it's a good thing that the moon shields the earth from most of the UV radiation emitted by the sun during a solar eclipse.
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Yes, but they are still far lower than they would be from an unobstructed sun.
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It's dangerous to look at the sun directly when it's almost eclipsed, because the overall brightness is low enough to not trigger a blink reflex.
https://www.space.com/37199-so... [space.com]
Re: sounds like a racket though. (Score:1)
People don't blink when they look at the full sun either. An eclipse is dangerous because the darkness dilates the pupils and allows the viewer to look at the normally bright, but reduced output, eclipsed sun without any natural response of the iris.
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I think the main purpose of the glasses is that they darken the sun enough to let you focus on it.
Sure, people glance at the sun, but they definitely don't focus on it for any length of time. Instinct makes you look away very quickly.
Anyhow, I don't see the point in watching the sun during a solar eclipse. You can create one every day with a piece of black cardboard and a skylight.
To me, the interesting parts of a solar eclipse are the unique colors landscapes are washed in, and how flora and fauna reacts
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No, you really can eclipse the sun every day. Not with the moon, but a piece of something opaque cut to the right size and a skylight.
Shade 14 welding glass (Score:2)
Re:Shade 14 welding glass (Score:5, Funny)
According to Revlon, it's mauve [www.ebay.ie]. Seems like a poor choice; it's not even after labor day.
Re: Shade 14 welding glass (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe it's maybelline you insensitive clod.
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This comment deserves more attention and modding.
Welding Glasses to watch Eclipse (Score:1)
I hope people are careful. It is very easy to damage one's eyes looking directly at the eclipse, or thru inferior filters. Check this link out for proper protection.
https://www.space.com/36941-solar-eclipse-eye-protection-guide.html [space.com]
Welding glass filters may work - but one needs to get the right shade. "Only goggles made for electric arc welding can be used to observe the sun, and they must have a shade scale number of 12 or higher. Shade 13 is ideal for solar viewing, but that shade is typically not sold in
Use #14 welding glass (Score:3)
Welding glass filters may work - but one needs to get the right shade. "Only goggles made for electric arc welding can be used to observe the sun, and they must have a shade scale number of 12 or higher. Shade 13 is ideal for solar viewing, but that shade is typically not sold in stores, Fienberg added."
NASA recommends #14 welding glass [nasa.gov].
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I just wear sunglasses under a #12 welding helmet.
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Some of these glasses might even be criminally deficient and law enforcement needs to act.
But that would be after the fact, damage was already done, therefore a caring society has a government that sets and enforces safety standards.
If not, Obamacare will make you pick up part of the bill
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Talking this way is why people think libertarians are crazy.
from an amateur astronomer... (Score:5, Informative)
You only have one set of eyes, don't be foolish about this.
Chances are that non-certified stuff has deficiencies in UV/IR filtering, so while you may be able to look into the sun for much longer than usual, your eyes still may get an unhealthy dose of radiation. No protection at all will at least have you turn away in time (unless you're foolish enough to look at the sun through an unprotected telescope, binoculars or tele lens).
As an amateur astronomer, I use Baader visual solar filter film, adapted to my different scopes and lenses. An A4 sheet (you could make a load of sunglasses from this) comes at 25EUR, which is very cheap compared to other options for observing the sun. Most of all, it's safe!
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You only have one set of eyes, don't be foolish about this.
Agreed. Although... we do have two... "do not look into laser with remaining eye" etc.
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An A4 sheet (you could make a load of sunglasses from this) comes at 25EUR, which is very cheap compared to other options for observing the sun
A few years ago, when we had a local partial eclipse, many of the shops around town were giving away free eclipse glasses. That's a lot cheaper than 25EUR.
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Were they buying them bulk off Amazon
Probably not, as they had store advertising on them.
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I second the Baader Solar Film. You can get sheets relatively inexpensively and as the OP said, an A4 sheet is enough to make several lens adapters as well as multiple pairs of sunglasses/viewers. It's used and has been used extensively in the amateur astronomy community for quite some time so is very well regarded and safe.
Re: from an amateur astronomer... (Score:1)
Doesn't like 90% less uv and ir radiation strike the earth during a full solar eclipse?
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I'm leading a party of 20 family and friends, and I bought mine from Rainbow Symphony a year ago. I thought of making my own with a sheet like yours, cardboard, and glue, but the pre-made glasses were about 75 cen
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Basic planning and preparation... (Score:2, Insightful)
Anyone buying eye protection from random amazon sellers at this late stage doesn't really deserve to have eyes.
Sadly all reliable sources of actual good gear (Thousand Oaks; if it's good quality solar film without their logo on it then it was bought from them and rebadged) have notices on their sites that essentially come down to "too late now".
Good times ahead for the American eye-care industry.
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I just bought a labrador farm.
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In the parent comment, VendettaMF argues that people who do not adequately vet their suppliers, deserve to be blinded. Yikes.
Re: Basic planning and preparation... (Score:3)
It's the kids whose parents are careless that I fear for. Any adult who purchases safety gear for something this vital from sunny_eyeseller69 on amazon/eBay or from a roadside vendor kinda has it coming.
I'd give the ones buying offline slightly more sympathy. The first group are proven to have Internet access.
Re: Basic planning and preparation... (Score:2)
Anonymous Troll declines to (or is incapable of) distinguishing between punishment and consequences.
Yawn.
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Good times ahead for the American eye-care industry.
Not really. If you have a damaged retina from excess sunlight, there's nothing that can be done, except waiting and hoping it recovers.
or just make your own (Score:1)
http://hilaroad.com/camp/proje... [hilaroad.com]
Just like we did in grade school in February of 1979.
Jingoistic? (Score:1)
Garishly jingoistic? Oh my a God, they had American flag patterns on them? That must have been so hard to experience. Twerp.
The only safe way (Score:2)
No form of looking through something at the sun is safe, so always use projection.
Rummage through your pile of Amazon boxes for a long skinny one. Cut a hole in the center of one end, and then tape a piece of aluminum foil over the hole to cover it completely. Make the smallest possible pinhole in the foil, to project the sun onto the other end of the carton. Cut a sheet of white paper to fit flat inside the end where the image is projected.
On eclipse day, all you need to do is go for beer and select a virg
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On eclipse day, all you need to do is go for beer and select a virgin for sacrifice.
Can you just sacrifice her virginity or does it have to be the whole virgin?
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Re: The only safe way (Score:1)
That's way overkill for a pinhole viewer. I just use my fingers.
Other vital Eclipse advice... (Score:5, Informative)
And for anyone using telescopes, binoculars or slr cameras...
Set a loud damn alarm for ten seconds before the end of totality, and do not leave unfiltered devices on tripods pointed at the sun. At best you'll wreck your camera. At worst some idiot kids (or adult) will try to sneak a peek.
I've seen the eyepiece cover of a Celestron kids telescope melt fully into the eyepiece itself on a scope left mounted after totality in China 2009.
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I seriously doubt it, but if so it certainly had nothing to do with the eclipse. The moon would have protected the telescope from more extensive damage caused by the full output of the sun. Pointing a telescope at a non-eclipsed sun on any other day, is far more damaging than pointing it at an eclipsed sun where the moon is shielding the telescope from ~95% of the light.
Re: Other vital Eclipse advice... (Score:2)
Think in terms of where the light is being focused...
Re: Other vital Eclipse advice... (Score:1)
In the same place place it would be in full sunlight, only it would be quite a bit less.
Re: Other vital Eclipse advice... (Score:2)
Normally in full sunlight there would be solar film on the "front" of the telescope. There was no such film in this case because it had been used for viewing during totality.
I'm not sure how much simpler I can make this for you.
Re: Other vital Eclipse advice... (Score:2)
This was a telescope that had been used to look at the corona during the Eclipse totality. Immediately after totality it was left pointed at the sun. During totality no filter was used as you'd expect. A cap was put on the eyepiece to prevent anyone looking at unfiltered sunlight. Said cap was melted by the focused sunlight as the coverage waned.
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The Strain (Score:2)
Does this news make anyone else nervous?
LK
Is there anywhere to check ISO 12312-2 validation? (Score:3)
I bought a pack of glasses off Amazon. Not the cheapest ones, I figured the plastic-framed ones would be less likely to be fakes than the cardboard ones, and of course I made sure it at least claims to be ISO 12312-2 tested and compliant. But it was still a somewhat shady dealer, and anyone can print the words "ISO 12312-2" on the packaging.
I would think there would be a site to check that something claiming ISO certification actually was tested against it, but I've not been able to find one. Does anyone know of a way to confirm?
BE SAFE! Use a pinhole projector (Score:2)
The SAFEST way to view the eclipse is INDIRECTLY, not looking directly at the sun.
Instructions:
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/s... [nasa.gov]
https://www.timeanddate.com/ec... [timeanddate.com]
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Right. Cardboard box viewers make the image of the sun easier to see, because your eyes are in the dark box. But if you don't want to make a cardboard box viewer, you can do this: Cut a piece of aluminum foil (or thick paper), about 5 by 5 inches. Using a needle or a pin, punch a hole in the aluminum foil. Then grab the foil and a piece of white paper (maybe a sheet of computer paper), and go outside. Hold the foil a few inches over the white paper. The crescent will be projected onto the paper.
If you want
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Yep. It doesn't actually take much to do a "pinhole". One eclipse, I only noticed because a tree's shadow was casting hundreds of crescent images, where the sun filtered through the leaves. I looked at that, thought, "That's funny," and then realized there had to be an eclipse going on. I went inside, and one of our blinds was down, but the row of sunlight dots coming through the edge also projected crescents on the far wall.
Another time, someone brought out a colander. It was built with a hundred circular
Camera requirements (Score:2)
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I'm thinking about getting one of these sheets of solar filter [amazon.com] for my dSLR and making a pipe fitting like the top rated review shows. Looks like it should hopefully be dark enough since they use it for certified viewers too.
I might save a bit of this sheet for my smartphone camera, though - but there'd be no safe way to look at the screen to see if I aimed that camera correctly since the shades would be too dark to see the screen with.
Re: Camera requirements (Score:2)
I use cokin filter adapter rings (not the filter holder, just the adapter ring) and just glue a circle of the filter sheet to the flat front of the ring.
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I'm looking for a quick change, because I want to take the filter off at totality and I won't have long.
Re: Camera requirements (Score:2)
Makes sense. I'll be switching lenses in full (12 seconds to be back in focus on my last practise run) as I want to be closer pre totality and a bit further out during totality itself.
Pinhole camera (Score:2)
I always recommend a pinhole camera. Zero cost from stuff you already have lying around. Zero chance of frying your eyes since you are looking at a screen with the sun at your back.
Me? I'll flip a coin between my Coronado PST and a small travel scope with a Baader mylar filter. Cherry red or a faint bluish tinge...
...laura
A cheap, easy and safe solar viewer (Score:2)
1. Go buy a small convex round rear-view mirror at any auto parts or department store. (This is the kind of round mirrors that bulge out in the center, and ANY size will work--even the little 2-inch across ones)
2. To view the sun, on a clear day stand near a building where the building's wall is in the shade of the roof overhang.
3. When you hold the round mirror at a 45-degree angle, you will see a round spot of light projected onto the shaded
After reading all these comments... (Score:1)
...could someone please tell me at what point during a solar eclipse more light reaches the viewer and the light intensity increases compared to any other day when the sun is not eclipsed? Just checking because a lot of these comments lack a basic understanding of what's happening during a solar eclipse.
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The problem arises just before and after totality, where the intensity of VISIBLE light is very low (so your eyeballs go wide open trying to collect more light), but the intensity of UV, X-Ray, and other heliospheric emissions is still about normal.
It's a lot easier to cook your retinas when your lenses are wide open in the dark while you're staring into a huge UV/X-Ray generator.
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If more light is reaching the viewer just before and after totality, why is it so dark outside relative to a normal sun?
Re: After reading all these comments... (Score:2)
More light is reaching the viewer's retinas because THEY ARE LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE SUN in a manner not generally done in everyday non-eclipse situations.
In the case of telescope and (SLR) camera users almost all the light that hits the front lens (much much larger than your eyeball) is being concentrated down into the smaller area of your retina.
Neither of these concepts should be difficult to understand.
Projection, or welding glasses #14 (Score:2)
Don't bother with the expensive solar filters, unless you already have them, from a reputable source.
Use welding glasses, but they have to be #14, not anything less.
The other way is to use projection. A small binocular is enough. Tie it to a tripod, and cover one side. Tilt it so it projects an image on a white piece of cardboard, then look at the cardboard with your back to the sun. This is safe. I did it for the Mercury transit last year.
We'll be going old-school... (Score:2)
... with a large cardboard box, a piece of white paper taped on the inside, and a sheet of aluminum foil taped over a hole across from the paper with a tiny hole poked in it. Essentially, a pinhole camera. There's really no need to be looking directly at the sun. Through anything. Dear $DIETY, I can't think of any reason to trust something bought on Amazon to use for viewing the sun. I'm expecting, though, to hear about numerous people with destroyed retinas on the news the day after the eclipse.
And in other news ... (Score:1)
No freedom for informatrion... (Score:1)
Just a related kvetch. The concept of laws that mandate standards you have to pay to see is something I've long found irritating. Why should there be a legally mandated "standard" that is kept a secret behind a pay wall?
You can't find out what the testing requirements are for a filter to view the eclipse without paying to look at the standard...
https://www.iso.org/standard/59289.html
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And of course every proper American will accept this responsibility and have their glasses tested scientifically (instead of the government just testing a sample). Seems reasonable to me.
Re: floppy disks and cds (Score:2)
Do NOT do this. There is (near as makes no difference) zero UV protection from old floppy disk interiors, unless you leave them in their covers and don't open the metal flap.