Why you absolutely shouldn’t reuse your old eclipse glasses


A solar eclipse is an awe-inspiring spectacle that is rare to observe in one’s lifetime. So don’t waste this unique moment by opting for glasses that are too old, which could put you in danger, and cause lifelong consequences.

France is preparing to witness the second solar eclipse of the year 2022. This is a partial eclipse, during which our planet finds itself in the penumbra of the Moon. If the weather is nice, the French will be able to see it. Depending on the city you are in, the eclipse spectacle will be different. The people of Strasbourg will see the phenomenon better than the people of Toulouse, for example.

The eclipse can be followed online and live, this Tuesday, October 25. Of course, you can also try its observation in real life. However, never forget that thewe do not look at the Sun in direct vision, whether there is an eclipse or not. Watching a solar eclipse requires precautions, for your safety. Even during a total eclipse, the star’s radiation can cause irreversible damage to your eyes. This is all the more dangerous as at the time of the burn, it is painless.

Put your old eclipse glasses back on? It’s way too risky

It is therefore essential to equip yourself correctly, with eclipse glasses. But not just any : they must be new. If you bought a pair to admire the total eclipse of August 1999, and you kept it as a souvenir, don’t even think for a second of using them again.

Don’t take any risks and choose recent glasses. // Source: Canva

The Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation warns: ” the filtering power can fade over time, and, worse, in the event of careless storage, the glasses may have been damaged (crack, hole in the film, etc.) “. This is why the institute invites you to favor recent glasses, less than a year old (and that you will have taken great care to store with care).

As a reminder, protective glasses specially designed for observing eclipses must comply with the international standard NF EN ISO 12312-2-2015. This must at least be indicated on the packaging. You can also check that the glasses have a CE conformity marking. Also, never use the filter lenses of these goggles on any device, such as binoculars, cameras or telescopes. Only filters designed specifically for these objects should be used.

As for sunglasses or other eccentric objects, it is absolutely inadvisable to use them to look at the star. It can even represent an even worse danger than if you looked at the Sun with the naked eye, according to the IMCCE: the burn would be even more intense. The light intensity is filtered by the glasses, and the pupil of the eye dilates.

All about the star of the solar system, the Sun





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