How to keep your eyes safe during a solar eclipse

With all the excitement circulating around social media about August’s solar eclipse, it’s important to take the proper safety precautions for viewing. The only safe way to watch the eclipse without proper eye protection is during its total phase, when the moon completely blocks out the sun, since it's unsafe to look directly at the sun.

The only safe way to watch the eclipse is with special “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. It is important to note that filters are unsafe to use if they have scratched or wrinkled lenses, or are older than three years old. According to NASA, only 5 manufactures have certified eclipse glasses and viewers. The companies include American Paper Optics, Baader Planetarium, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17. Even when wearing eye protection, it’s important to give your eyes breaks from looking directly at the sun.

It’s also important to not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, or binoculars without a filter. Even if you are wearing eclipse glasses, the concentration of solar rays can damage the filter and injure your eyes. Specific filters can be bought for cameras and telescopes, depending on the exact model you own.

Remember, here on Delmarva we will see approximately 80% of the sun covered at the greatest eclipse on August 21, 2017.