How to watch a solar eclipse safely?
Always wear eye protection such as eclipse glasses when looking at the Sun. If you are in the path of totality, you can only remove your eclipse glasses for the brief period when the Moon fully blocks the Sun. When you begin to see even a little bit of the bright Sun appearing again, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on.
Always examine your eclipse glasses for holes, peeling, scratches, or other defects or damage. Children using eclipse glasses should be supervised closely.
Your eyes will instantly be damaged if you look at the Sun with regular sunglasses or through cameras, binoculars, or telescopes without special-purpose solar filters. Eclipse glasses should never be used in conjunction with these devices.
Eclipse glasses and other protection
Eclipse glasses are made with special-purpose solar filters according to international standards (ISO 12312-2). Free eclipse glasses are available at the Sciences Library and the Pentacrest.
The American Astronomical Society and NASA recommend the following sources for ISO-certified eclipse glasses:
According to experts, number 14 welder's glass is also safe for solar viewing.
Telescopes with solar filters are the best way to view a solar eclipse. On the day of the eclipse, the Physics & Astronomy Department will set up telescopes with solar filters on the Pentacrest and in the courtyard outside the Sciences Library. Never look at the Sun through an unfiltered telescope.
Projectors
Pinhole projectors and other projection techniques are safe, indirect methods for viewing a solar eclipse. It's easy to make your own pinhole projector:
On the day of the eclipse, a projection telescope will be set up in the courtyard outside the Sciences Library.
