NYS Attorney General issued a warning about fake eclipse glasses.
There's been a lot of talk about the upcoming total eclipse that's going to take place on Monday, April 8th. Places to go to for the best viewing of the eclipse, warnings about heavy traffic, large crowds and more.
One thing we hadn't heard about until now are the eclipse glasses that people are purchasing. Apparently there are counterfeit glasses being sold. The NYS Attorney General has issued a warning to people buying these special eclipse viewing glasses letting people know to test their glasses before going out and starring at the sun. Legitimate glasses should have an International Organization of Standardization certification on the frame.
Here are a few things that you need to know about purchasing and using your solar eclipse glasses -
-Make sure the solar eclipse glasses you purchase are registered as a ‘Solar Viewer Brand’ with the American Astronomical Society.
-Test the solar eclipse glasses ahead of time. The American Astronomical Society says that when wearing legitimate solar eclipse glasses indoors, objects should be hardly visible, and when worn outdoors, objects except the sun’s reflection on shiny surfaces should still be hard to see.
-Be sure your glasses are marked with the international safety standard certification number ISO 12312-2. This number will be on the glasses’ frame.
-If you already own glasses marked with the international safety standard certification, inspect them to make sure the filters aren’t scratched, torn, loose in the frame, or damaged in any way. If any of these conditions are present, replace the glasses with a new, certified pair.
-Read information on how to safely use handheld viewers on the American Astronomical Society’s website.
-Understand that ordinary sunglasses cannot be used as a replacement for eclipse viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers.
-If viewing the eclipse through a camera or telescope, be sure your lens has a solar filter. Follow tips provided by NASA on how to safely photograph the solar eclipse.
If you happen to come across "fake" eclipse glasses then you are asked to report where you got them to the AG's office.
You can get safety tips for viewing along with a list of trusted places to get your glasses by CLICKING HERE
