Eclipse Viewing Glasses Sold Out, 100% of Proceeds Donated to Richmond Elementary School Foundation.
Update: As of August 14th, 2017, we’re all sold out of the eclipse glasses. Thank you everybody who purchased the glasses from our office. You raised about $1500 for Richmond Elementary School.
The Solar Eclipse
We’re looking forward to the solar eclipse that will occur on Monday, August 21st 2017. Luckily, the path of totality, the 60-70 mile band where folks will experience a total eclipse in which the moon completely blocks the sun and turns day into night, passes through part of Oregon. During the total eclipse, when the moon is completely blocking the sun, the solar corona will be visible and is safe to look at without a filter. However, at any other time during the eclipse, when the sun is only partially blocked, it is unsafe to look at without approved eclipse viewing glasses.
We will be selling solar eclipse viewing glasses at Portland Eye Care from now up until the eclipse occurs on August 21st (while our supplies last). These glasses have been certified to meet ISO 12312-2, the international standard for safety of solar eclipse viewing glasses. It is important to know that ordinary sunglasses are not safe for solar eclipse viewing.
The solar eclipse viewing glasses are available now at our office for $3 each and 100% of proceeds on sales of eclipse viewing glasses will be donated to the Richmond Elementary School Foundation. Please read over the guidelines below provided courtesy of the following organizations for safely viewing the solar eclipse.
Safety Guidelines for viewing solar eclipse (courtesy of American Astronomical society, American Academy of Optometry, American Academy of Ophthalmology, NASA, and the National Science Foundation):
How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the sun. On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible (weather permitting) across all of North America. The whole continent will experience a partial eclipse lasting 2 to 3 hours. Halfway through the event, anyone within a roughly 70-mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds, turning day into night and making visible the otherwise hidden solar corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — one of nature’s most awesome sights. Bright stars and planets will become visible as well.
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.
Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter. Always supervise children using solar filters.
Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a 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. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
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 quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases.
An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is pinhole projection. 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 partial phases of the eclipse.
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime.
Optometrist at Portland Eye Care.