How to safely watch an eclipse

Never look directly at the Sun. You can seriously hurt your eyes, and even go blind. Proper eye protection, like eclipse glasses or a Sun filter, is the only safe option. Sunglasses don’t work.

When and where?

Do Sunglasses Protect Eyes in a Solar Eclipse?

Definitely NOT!

How to protect your eyes seeing a solar eclipse.

According to NASA, the following materials should never be used to view a solar eclipse:

• NO! sunglasses of any kind
  NO!  color film
  NO!  medical X-ray film
  NO!  smoked glass
  NO! floppy disks
• NO!  coloured toffee paper

The Sun’s UV radiation can burn the retinas in the eyes leading to permanent damage or even blindness.

This can occur even if your eyes are exposed to direct sunlight for just a few seconds.

Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

The only way to safely view the Sun – eclipsed or not – is to either project or filter the Sun’s rays.

Projectors
Projection works well. You can make your own box projector or use a telescope or binoculars. However, don’t look through the telescope’s eyepiece or side-mounted finder scope while projecting the Sun’s image onto a screen.

Eclipse Glasses
If you are not the DIY type, the American Astronomical Society has compiled a list of vendors where you can buy safe eclipse glasses.

NASA recommends welder’s glasses rated 14 or higher. These can be found at your local welding supply store. Keep in mind that welder glass grading may be different in different countries.

Solar Filters
You can use special solar filters to watch the Sun during a solar eclipse, but use the proper type of solar filter that is designed for eclipses.

Check that filters do not crack under the Sun’s magnified and focused intensity. Solar filters must be treated with care, or they can quickly become damaged and unsafe to use.