LivCo Sol

Eye Safety

Looking directly at the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”) when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality. To have a safe and enjoyable eclipse viewing experience, please follow all NASA viewing guidelines for eye safety, including...

• It is never safe to look directly at the sun, even if the sun is partly obscured.
• When watching an eclipse, you must wear safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) at all times. Get your Official LivCo Sol Eclipse Glasses here!
• To read all of NASA's eye safety guidelines, click here.
• Protect your eyes at all times during the eclipse. Read more from the American Astrological Society about appropriate eyewear and eye safety during the eclipse.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun. Eclipse glasses and hand-held solar viewers should meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products.

Pinhole projection is an alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed Sun. For example, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other. With your back to the Sun, look at your hands’ shadow on the ground. The little spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images on the ground, showing the Sun as a crescent during the eclipse's partial phases. Additional eye safety tips can be found on NASA’s website.

WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO:

• Look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
• Look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer - the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.

If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright Sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases. The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun is through eclipse glasses or solar viewers. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun. Safety is the number one priority when viewing an eclipse.

Buy your official LivCo Sol Eclipse Glasses and start planning for the annular solar eclipse in October 2023 and the total solar eclipse in April 2024.