If there seems to be a lot of eclipse activity in the world, you are undoubtedly correct. In the next few years there will be solar eclipses in December of 2019, and total or annular solar eclipses in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026, with some years having 2 events.
Of course, not all of these will be seen in the United States. However, there are eclipses that will traverse the country d go through parts of South America in 2020 and 2024. These are always highly anticipated events, and many people travel thousands of miles to be in the path of the total eclipse.
Viewing any eclipse starts with having safe solar eclipse glasses. These glasses are not expensive, which means everyone should have a pair to wear throughout the eclipse. Knowing what to look for in a safe solar eclipse glasses to protect your vision and to increase your enjoyment of these events starts with knowing what levels of protection are required.
Light Filtration
The key to any safe solar eclipse glasses is the ability to filter out the harmful light emitted naturally by the sun. It is essential to look for glasses that offer 100% filtration of the ultra-violet light the sun produces, as well as the infrared light. The best quality of eclipse glasses filters out 99.999% of this infrared light.
Compliance with Standards
There are specific standards set forth for safe solar eclipse glasses. These glasses should state in their marketing that they are ISO 12312-2 certified for the direct observation of the sun, and the top brands and types will also be certified or approved by other governing bodies including CE certification and specific approval in various countries.
The best solar eclipse glasses are also comfortable to wear and lightweight. This is an essential factor for providing eye safety for both children and adults during the eclipse.
