How to Safely Watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse
Next Monday, April 8, 2024, the Shreveport area will see a deep partial solar eclipse which won’t happen again for another 20 years!
Looking at the sun without a solar filter, whether through a camera lens or with your bare eyes, can severely damage your eyes. We’ve listed 3 safe ways to safely watch:
1. Wear eclipse glasses with certified solar filters.
According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not enough to protect your vision if you look at the sun. Homemade filters are also a bad idea, and will not protect your eyes.
Plan ahead and obtain eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers. These products contain a solar filter that must meet a very specific worldwide standard known as ISO 12312-2. This filter is the only way to truly protect your eyes from the sun’s powerful rays.
The American Astronomical Society has a list of companies that supply eclipse glasses and solar viewers. They also have guidance on how to make sure your eclipse glasses are safe and legit.
2. Use a pinhole viewer to watch the eclipse indirectly.
This type of viewing instrument allows you to project an image of the sun onto a surface like paper or a wall which makes the image of the eclipsed sun safe to look at. You can purchase these devices or make one at home.
3. View the eclipse by live stream.
By viewing the eclipse via live stream, you know the right safety measure have been taken to protect your eyes from damage. NASA will have a live stream of the solar eclipse.
Remember, ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, or homemade filters are not safe for looking at the sun. There is only one safe way to look directly at the sun, whether during an eclipse or not: through special-purpose solar filters.
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