NASA Issues Warning on Sale of Fake Eclipse Eye Protection

Proper Eye Protection Needed When Viewing Eclipse

Ahead of the total eclipse set to occur on Monday, August 21, 2017, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is warning consumers of the sale of unsafe “eclipse glasses” and hand-held solar viewers (known generally as solar filters). Without the proper eye protection, looking directly at the sun is extremely unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through a special-purpose solar filter.Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun, as they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight. For a list of verified manufacturers and authorized dealers of solar filters, click here.

NASA has also issued the following tips for consumers and eclipse-watchers:

1. Always inspect your solar filter before use. If it is scratched or damaged, discard it. Be sure to read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with each item.
2. Always supervise children using solar filters.
3. If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
4. Stand still and cover your eyes with your solar filter before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter—do not remove it while looking at the sun.
5. Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
6. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer—the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.
7. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.
8. If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases. Outside the path of totality, you must always use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.

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