The American Astronomical Society (AAS) reported in a recent article that some retailers are selling counterfeit solar eclipse glasses and viewers for the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21st. And far worse than simply selling phony products, sellers are printing fake ISO certifications and providing forged test results on the glasses, making it nearly impossible to distinguish them from safe products. To ensure your glasses are the real deal, the AAS suggests buying your glasses from a reputable retailer they have verified. If you have already purchased your glasses you can check to see if they are safe by doing the following:
“You shouldn’t be able to see anything through a safe solar filter except the Sun itself or something comparably bright, such as the Sun reflected in a mirror, a sunglint off shiny metal, or the filament of a bare incandescent light bulb. If you can see ordinary household light fixtures through your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer, it’s no good. Safe solar filters produce a view of the Sun that is comfortably bright (like the full Moon), in focus, and surrounded by dark sky. If you glance at the Sun through your solar filter and find it uncomfortably bright, out of focus, and surrounded by a murky haze, it’s no good. You should contact the seller and demand a refund or credit for return of the product, then obtain a replacement from one of the sources listed on the AAS’s reputable-vendors page.”
-AAS
So if you are planning on viewing the eclipse (and you should, the entire continental US will see at least a partial eclipse!) be extra careful and take the time to make sure your eclipse glasses are indeed safe! You can also view the eclipse via indirect methods, such as pinhole viewers.
Stay safe and clear skies!
~Misty Carty, Ph.D.