A rare annular solar eclipse on January 15, 2010 in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in Kerala, South … [+]
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When is the solar eclipse? On Saturday, October 14, a major solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. and throughout North, Central, and South America. Everyone in the U.S. will be able to see the impressive sight of a new moon passing in front of the sun over the course of a few hours, as long as the skies are clear. Those within a 125-mile-wide path stretching from Oregon through Texas will have the chance to witness a “ring of fire” for a few minutes.
It is important to prioritize eye safety when observing the solar eclipse, regardless of one’s location. Solar protection filters are essential for all viewers. Dr. Rick Feinberg, Project Manager of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force at the American Astronomical Society, emphasized this at a seminar on eclipse eye safety in June, stating, “There will be no time this October when anybody can look directly at the sun without eye protection.”
The conventional method of observing such events is to periodically glance through a pair of safe solar filters, also known as solar eclipse glasses, which will soon be in high demand. Soon, people will be asking how to view the solar eclipse, where to find safe solar eclipse glasses, and how to look at a solar eclipse.
You can go beyond simple solar eclipse glasses. While these thin cardboard devices do an excellent job and provide safety, they make the eclipse appear small. New designs are now available that offer sturdier construction and even some magnification. There is a range of solar eclipse-specific binoculars and telescopes to choose from.
Where To Purchase Safe Solar Eclipse Viewing Products
“Safe products are those that comply with an international standard that was adopted in 2015 called ISO 12312-2,” said Dr. Feinberg. “If you know that your filters meet that standard, you know that they’re safe.”
All solar eclipse filters are considered safe if they adhere to the ISO 12312-2 international standard. It is relatively easy to ensure this, as solar filters are manufactured by three companies — American Paper Optics and Rainbow Symphony (the latter in partnership with Thousand Oaks Optical) in the U.S., and Baader Planetarium in Europe.
Check the American Astronomical Society’s Suppliers of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers page, which provides a list of recommended resellers and distributors that sell products compliant with the ISO standard.
From upgrading your solar eclipse glasses to purchasing a telescope specifically for the eclipse, here’s how to enhance your eclipse viewing experience:
Best Solar Eclipse Glasses
Solar eclipse glasses are readily available (priced at around $5 each), but in my opinion, the best ones are American Paper Optics’ Eclipser HD Solar Glasses ($19.99). They use plastic frames instead of cardboard and can be worn like sunglasses. These glasses are more durable than cardboard ones and come with a soft sleeve to protect the lenses from scratches. They provide the sun with an orangey hue.
Best Solar Eclipse Glasses With Magnification
The Celestron EclipSmart 2x Power Viewers ($12.95 for two) offer an innovative and safe way of looking at the sun. Although primarily made of cardboard, they fold flat when not in use and expand with plastic lenses that double the size of the sun in your field of view. It takes a little practice to use them, with slight double vision being a minor issue at first. However, these viewers provide an easy and travel-friendly way to obtain a slightly better view of a solar eclipse.
A selection of available solar eclipse products.
Best Solar Eclipse Binoculars
Never look at the sun using binoculars, even when wearing solar eclipse glasses. Solar filters must always be the first thing that sunlight hits.
Many eclipse-chasers purchase glass solar filters or use Baader AstroSolar Safety Film to create their own solar filters for binoculars using an empty tube of potato chips, scissors, and glue. However, there are now various products available that have built-in solar filters. I have tried them all and can say that the most portable ones are the Lunt SUNoculars Mini 6×30 ($24.95) and the Celestron EclipSmart 10x25mm Roof Solar Binoculars ($43.95), while the most impressive are the Lunt SUNoculars…
