April 8, 2024 - Total Solar Eclipse: Safety

When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun. Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard. NASA does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers.

Two-minute video from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. A one-page PDF of viewing safety tips is also available.

The American Astronomical Society describes the kinds of filters required for photography and video. AAS site also includes links to other eclipse photography sites.