Posted on 08/17/2017 6:04:52 AM PDT by Leaning Right
You've planned your road trip, downloaded your science apps, and bought yourself a pair of shiny new spectacles: you're ready for the eclipse. But is your eyewear is up to the task?
With the Great American Eclipse approaching, demand for eclipse glasses—with special lenses designed to keep the sun from harming your peepers—is surging. And counterfeit glasses are everywhere. In fact, Amazon is so swamped by reports of possibly unsafe glasses that the company is allegedly sending out recalls and refunds for products that are certified as eclipse-safe.
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
Squint.
How do you know if your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers are truly safe? You need to know that they meet the ISO 12312-2 (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015) international safety standard. Filters that are ISO 12312-2 compliant not only reduce visible sunlight to safe and comfortable levels but also block solar UV and IR radiation.
Unfortunately, you can’t check whether a filter meets the ISO standard yourself — doing so requires a specialized and expensive piece of laboratory equipment called a spectrophotometer that shines intense UV, visible, and IR light through the filter and measures how much gets through at each wavelength. Solar filter manufacturers send their products to specialized labs that are accredited to perform the tests necessary to verify compliance with the ISO 12312-2 safety specifications. Once they have the paperwork that documents their products as ISO-compliant, they can legitimately use the ISO logo on their products and packaging.
Even more unfortunately, unscrupulous vendors can grab the ISO logo off the internet and put it on their products and packaging even if their eclipse glasses or viewers haven’t been properly tested. This means that just seeing the ISO logo or a label claiming ISO 12312-2 certification isn’t good enough. You need to know that the product comes from a reputable manufacturer or one of their authorized dealers.
https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
Opthamologists are going to make a killing as a result of this eclipse....
The sun specks I got were from B&H online. Just like the old 3D red/blue theater glasses, only both lenses blacked out pretty good.
Printed in with the fine print instruction it says,
“Meets 2015 Transmission Safety Requirements of ISO 12312-2 for direct Solar Viewing.” Made by Lunt Solar Systems.
Me and the wife are going on a date to the middle of a stubble wheat field somewhere between Grand Island and Beatrice Nebraska.
100% totality for almost 3 minutes!
I wouldn’t trust any of these “eclipse” glasses. Its not material the “safety” lingo they’ve printed on them—anyone can print up any BS. I wouldn’t be surprised if tons of Chinese fly-by-night outfits who’ve made these things haven’t already taken the money, closed the doors and are hiding out.
There’ll be a lot of blind people stumbling around after August 21st. Buy stock in cane manufacturing and guide dog training companies.
“Buy stock in cane manufacturing and guide dog training companies.”
I have a blind friend who would have laughed at that.
Ours are on the certified list. Good thing because we have 150 pair for an eclipse party we’re hosting.
Dont forget your large squishey when you pick up your eclipse specks.
Check out the Sun's magnetic field lines...
How about stick welding mask?
I would not trust my eyes to any glasses. The risk/benefit is too great on the risk side. There are other ways to “see” the eclipse that are risk free.
I told my wife that there will be many reports of eye damage following this eclipse since there are many ignorant people in this country.
It’s never a good idea to stare at the sun, but staring at it during a total eclipse is not MORE dangerous, it’s LESS because It is BEING BLOCKED BY THE MOON.
It may seem like you can look longer, but you will not go instantly blind if you look at it.
Use caution, don’t overdo it. Something as thick as two pairs of sunglasses will allow you to see the entire thing. it will last longer than 3 minute- it will slowly get darker and darker then total darkness then slowly get lighter.
I’ve got some Rainbow Symphony glasses. I tried them in the house and saw nothing. Couldn’t even see any lights on in the house. I went outside in the sun and the same. I might as well have had my eyes closed. Couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I looked up at the sun and saw an orange moon like sun, dimmer than a full moon. I reckon mine are legit.
. I wouldn’t trust any of these “eclipse” glasses. Its not material the “safety” lingo they’ve printed on them—anyone can print up any BS. <
Exactly! That’s why this article (and others like it) are so important. What’s printed on your glasses means nothing. Better actually test ‘em out.
During totality it is safe to remove glasses. The hazard is during partial eclipse
We are taking the day off--driving up to John Day, Oregon (about 8 hours away) to camp and then watch the eclipse in the morning. For this we are making a solar observatory (variation of a pinhole telescope, but with mounts for iPhones to record). Not sure if 16 hours of round-trip driving is worth the 2 minute and 7 second eclipse, but they are insistent on going.
That what I have used in the past. One time I even stacked up about 8 pairs of sunglasses and that worked fine also.
enjoy....I hope you have clear skies.....if not be prepared to be flexible and maybe travel elsewhere.....by Saturday you should have a good idea how the cloud cover will be.
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