Counterfeit Solar Eclipse Glasses? - Three Ways To Spot A Potential Problem

[@bralphchou9624]

Nicely done! As the ISO Project Leader for the ISO 12312-2 standard, I can say that you have presented the easiest ways for people to check out their solar eclipse glasses/viewers. The reason we have a range of luminous transmittances is to allow for variation in the density of the filter materials when they are manufactured. The upper limit ensures that the filters don't let through too much light, while the lower limit ensures that you can always use the filters to look at the Sun in most viewing conditions except at sunrise or sunset. Thanks for making this video!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for this comment. After I realized that mine were questionable, I began a deep dive into the subject and discovered that there were still some dubious companies involved in eclipse viewers. I hope that number is quite small this time around.

[@NoBreadsticks]

Wow, straight from the source!

[@JoeIsOut2lunch]

I wish this were a trend. Experts speaking up and supporting videos giving them credibility…or the opposite in some cases (not this one). Bravo sir.

[@insider235]

Why can’t you use them for sunset or sunrise?

[@AllAmericanGuyExpert]

I checked all of my 2017 glasses before I hand them out to my kids again. Every one of them were in-spec. I also got mine before the big 2017 brouhaha when every Amazon and eBay seller got shut down for no good reason. They went berserk over the handful of fakes out there. All it did was 1) Made online orders impossible to obtain close to the eclipse. 2) it made people scared to use their legit ones. and 3) at the end of the day, fake ones are still apparently available online, over 6 years later!

[@johnrogers8763]

It's scary that there are companies out there that are willing to sell what they KNOW will cause eye injury or blindness just to make a few bucks.

[@benjaminandrews1870]

It's scary but when I was in school we put microscope slides above a candle to get darkened by the carbon deposits and used the glass slides to view it. 😅 glass, candles, wow time has changed in the last 30 years

[@alquinn8576]

that's China for you. same people who put melamine into baby formula

[@pendlera2959]

Modern economic philosophy teaches businesses that their only duty is to owners and shareholders, not to their emplyees, customers, or society. We literally allow business classes to teach this. It's absurd to expect them to care about safety before profit when they've been taught otherwise.

[@protorhinocerator142]

Made in China. They have no regard for customer safety. Also children's jewelry with lead in it. Way to go, China.

[@98f5]

They dont know because they didnt check. You dont get how scummy people are on this earth.

[@oil_painted_dessert]

Just double-checked all our glasses - found out that one of the 2 brands we were using was a scam. THANK you for saving the eyeballs of someone in our group

[@MouMouPatt]

glad you and your family/friends were saved!

[@timl.b.2095]

Might have been a good idea to remind people to check for scratches or flaws in their old pair of eclipse glasses, as those can be dangerous too.

[@reedr7142]

That’s what I thought his third tip was going to be. Good video, nonetheless.

[@mantha6912]

I was told by my teacher that solar eclipse glasses "expire" after about a year, is there any truth to this?

[@Sekir80]

@@AstronomyGarage This was a great starter, but you should address a much bigger problem: UV. It doesn't really matter what the visible light transmittance is (people have different tastes), but UV makes your eye hurt as you mentioned at the end of this video. Unfortunately, I don't have an idea how to test these glasses against UV, but again, it is WAAY more important, that makes it quite a hassle.

[@SatanRomps]

In the old days, yes but now we have technology that fixes that issue. "Eclipse glasses that meet the ISO certification standard and were made after 2015 do not expire." ​@mantha6912

[@Timoco]

@@mantha6912 Yes. Many glasses have a 3 year expiration life span. The glasses from the 2017 eclipse should not be used for the upcoming 2024 eclipse. The glasses will often have the expiration written on the inside.

[@selalewow]

As someone who looked directly at an eclipse in the 90's I can confirm the importance of this. I thought "less light so less damage", right? Nope. The light around the corona is less, so your irises don’t dilate enough and the full UV rays get through. I still have the small dot in the center of my vision but i have pretty much my full sight back. I was lucky.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for sharing this experience.

[@Perennial1997]

Did it hurt at the time?

[@selalewow]

@@Perennial1997 There was no pain at all. That's one of the dangers because pain alerts you to something being wrong. I had a white spot in the middle of my vision, like when you look at a bright light, but it did not go away. I made an emergency appointment with my eye doctor when I woke up the next day and it was still there.

[@intherockies]

​@@Perennial1997 it burns your eye like a sunburn and permanently damages your vision.

[@victorsanchez4497]

Can you describe what it looked like? I'm very curious to see what it looks like from a person that saw it natural. Thank you!

[@l.riggins1857]

You need to have a minimum transmittance specification so that you can see the sun through it. If the minimum were zero, you couldn't see anything. Putting a brick in front of your eyes would satisfy the requirement, protect your eyes, but wouldn't give any solar visual experience. Thanks for your informative video. It's needed and appreciated.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for your comment. That makes perfect sense.

[@jpolowin0]

"Our bricks are ISO 12312-2 compliant!"

[@l.riggins1857]

@@jpolowin0 😂

[@JxH]

100% Cardboard would be cheaper than a brick. More comfortable to wear too.

[@GTaichou]

Of course... this makes complete sense, thank you! Makes me feel like I need to go back to Logic 101 LOL 😂

[@jeanneobbard]

The algorithm did me a solid today... Just went and double-checked that my glasses came from a safe brand. Thank you for this! 👍

[@someguy1ification]

I checked mine against the aas list as well. They were indeed on it.

[@adolescentbird]

The algorithm has decided to show me this the day after the eclipse

[@mantha6912]

That was a very clever "hit the like button" segment- I gave the video a like for that and the good info!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Much appreciated!

[@KingCookieCat]

I did the exact same lol

[@ruidadgmailcanada8508]

@@AstronomyGarageI subbed for the comedy…and the learning.

[@mrjr03]

I thought it was very cute lol

[@XWierdThingsHappenX]

I had no idea the glasses I got from Amazon may have not been safe! Thanks for this I was able to confirm my glasses are indeed safe for eclipse viewing.

[@cookiesandpudding8485]

Which ones did you get?

[@RickR69]

Amazon doesn't verify most postings and you shouldn't trust anything the seller writes on the product description. There is a TON of blatant fraud on Amazon and there has been for years and nothing has been done about it.

[@graysontucker3239]

Amazon just sent me an email saying the once I bought were not on the list of approved manufacturers and are refunding me the money I spent. So hopefully this can help other who bought the same ones I did.

[@n.crider3798]

Wait, you mean the glasses from INOOSEEE brand are not any good? Amazon is worse than the dollar store

[@RickR69]

@@n.crider3798 there's so much fraud on Amazon.

[@RobKaiser_SQuest]

I like how an odd number of eyes had been saved.

[@AstronomyGarage]

One commenter said they only had one eye, so I wanted to accommodate the count for them. :)

[@TheLordOfNothing]

@@AstronomyGarage One eye or one functioning eye? Didn't think it was possible to live with one eye, usually babies who are born with only one eye die after birth.

[@danielthecake8617]

>surgically removed eye

[@pbandmayosandwich3208]

@@TheLordOfNothingyou can 100% live without an eye.

[@TheLordOfNothing]

@@pbandmayosandwich3208 You can live with one eye and a normally shaped skull...most babies die if you have an abnormally shaped skull with one eye in the center.

[@battery_wattage]

My local library hands out real eclipse glasses to the first 5000 who attend their eclipse safety talk. There’s that. 🙂

[@TheLordOfNothing]

Where do you live where there's more than 5000 patrons at your local library?

[@battery_wattage]

@@TheLordOfNothing my town has a population of about 300k and it’s near a college. It’s also about 50 miles away from totality. They don’t hand them out all at once. It’s done twice a day for two days and once the last day.

[@bazarleam2593]

5000 huh? Doubtful.

[@bazarleam2593]

​@@TheLordOfNothingthe cost... say they were low at 2 dollars each. Cost that library 10 grand? Come on.. Smh

[@battery_wattage]

@@bazarleam2593 it’s not a small town and college. There are millions donated to the college each year and both the college and library work closely together.

[@metarus208]

Thanks for saving people!

[@AstronomyGarage]

WOW! Thank you for your kind generosity. I'm just trying to help out the community as best I can. My tiny channel has almost no chance to impact the world, but for some reason this video caught somebody's attention and it took off. I still don't understand it.

[@sylviabennan]

dude you rock, you are likely saving a lot of people from getting eye damage

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for the kind words. Frankly, I'm bewildered at how popular this video got.

[@privatepilot4064]

You can use a colander to view the eclipse. And it does work. You can view the eclipse on a piece of paper placed beneath it. However, never sing into a colander because you can strain your voice.

[@wta1518]

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ *DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE COLANDER* ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ You hold the colander up to the sun, and look at it's shadow.

[@katie7748]

LOL I love dad jokes!!

[@nicoles_soul5477]

@@wta1518Yes I love you are warning people because I’m sure some people would’ve misunderstood and this is eye saving! I appreciate you

[@AmeliaEarhart537]

I love the joke 😂😂😂

[@privatepilot4064]

@@AmeliaEarhart537 😀

[@dorothythorpe6183]

Thank you to ISO and AAS and Reflactor for keeping us safe. I used the list and my family has their safe eclipse viewers. I just love science-folks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

ISO and AAS did all the hard work. I just talk and bounce around like a monkey.

[@djksfhakhaks]

We just bought a box of 20. Ima check them before we travel. Thanks for the heads up!!!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have a safe eclipse day!

[@jenniferelkins]

Us too!

[@djksfhakhaks]

@@jenniferelkins If it hadn't been for this video I likely would have put many eyes in jeopardy! I already can't see well at night but I wouldn't forgive myself if my children got hurt.

[@djksfhakhaks]

@@AstronomyGarage so, I'm kinda confused. My wife and I disagree about the percentage. When I shine my phone flashlight through them, I can see it. Are they just on the lower side of the allowable range?

[@mynameisworld]

Who is Ima?

[@kamilmoucka6811]

During the last total solar eclipse in Europe in August 1999 I had to drive 50km south to Austria. Back then I had to make do with two computer floppy disks as a solar filter (I still have it somewhere) and its transmittance was comparable to those certified glasses. Otherwise, I wish all of you in America to enjoy the eclipse and most importantly, may the weather be good.😀

[@AstronomyGarage]

That sounds like quite a memorable adventure. Hoping for good weather here.

[@californigirl]

​@@AstronomyGarage HAH I see what you did there.

[@protorhinocerator142]

I'm planning on a road trip for the eclipse. Here's hoping for good weather.

[@brodriguez11000]

Welding glasses.

[@zerospace101]

That was a brilliant solution

[@zalphinian]

Excellent video! I purchased mine online and ensured the seller/brand name was on the list before making my purchase. Hearing about all the problems with the last eclipse, I didn't want to waste money on fraud for this one and knew that anyone could CLAIM compliance without actually meeting it.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks for watching - I'm glad it was helpful. Have a great eclipse day!

[@JxH]

If they can fake the ISO information printing, then they can look-up and fake the brand names too. It's just ink. The concept of testing presently in this video is good. I did exactly that, but then carefully working up to viewing the noon Sun. Glasses seem perfectly fine; two batches. I saw sunspots and the granularity of the Sun's surface. Eyes are fine.

[@jayjackson5705]

I just did the test at 4:30 and they failed. You saved me my eyesight. Thank you. Buying US made ones from the AAS website list. I was very skeptical when they arrived to me and the amazon link has been removed (of course no warning from Amazon to the customers who bought them)

[@allenwurl6245]

Thank you, for caring more about our eyes than the people trying to steal $10 (and potentially our vision) 👍❤👍

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable eclipse day!

[@metal4brkfst]

Thanks for this video. My daughter bought a bunch of eclipse glasses, so the first thing I did after watching was go check that they meet iso 12312-2. Thank You!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for checking! I think most people will find that theirs are safe. I was quite shocked that the pair I bought was so bad.

[@TheStevecas9860]

Well done protect your family's eyes and anyone else!

[@ColumineMiette]

Commenting so more people can see this. This is really important. You don't get another pair of eyes!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Very true. Have a safe eclipse day!

[@TreadTheDonutDuck]

This has little to do with any of the actual information you gave (which was extremely helpful), but MAN I love your physicality! I quite enjoy public speaking and the way you move your hands and sink down for emphasis is oddly mesmerizing.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks! It's partially due to my poor editing skills too. I haven't learned how to use subtlety when clipping segments together. It's a learning experience. Have a great eclipse day!

[@michaelboldyga6239]

It's distracting .

[@barmalini]

The minimum transmittance requirement has to do with the eye's accommodation mechanism. If light levels are too low, the eye will adapt to darkness and become vulnerable again, particularly to any stray UV rays.

[@robertjenkins6132]

I thought it was so that you could actually see something. I mean, you could stand behind a large tree and use the trunk of the large tree as eclipse glasses, but then you wouldn't be able to see anything....

[@tluvloco]

Thank you for this! I didn’t even consider that some eclipse glasses may be so subpar that they could do damage.

[@donwilliams6783]

We appreciate your concern. Your channel is not only fun and interesting. You have provided a public service. Enjoy the Eclipse! 😊

[@chillmurray7529]

I bought and used eclipse glasses in 2018 and sometimes, under certain conditions, I can still see the eclipse with my eyes closed. It has to be very very dark( like a moonless night) and my eyes have to have been closed for a long time. It only ever happens when I’ve gotten up at night to use the bathroom without turning on any lights. When I lay back down I can see what I call “caviar lights”. Hundreds of little tiny semi circles of light in a sort of a cluster. Other than that my eyes seem perfectly fine.

[@colt5189]

Were your glasses legit, or possibly fake?

[@chillmurray7529]

@@colt5189 fair question; they seemed legit. They had a mirror like outside and you couldn’t see anything else through them. But who knows? I still have them somewhere

[@thoryan3057]

@@chillmurray7529 Even on legit pairs there are still safety guidelines written on them warning not to use for more than 3 minutes of continuous use and to only look up to a few hours intermittently. You're not supposed to look nonstop.

[@user-qq73hxryby]

Yeah, I had a pair I bought from Amazon that met the AAS list and ISO things talked about in the video, but i only looked for a couple seconds at the eclipse and had that afterimage for a while after.

[@hoosierpioneer]

​@user-fr7uz7ismj I get those afterimages from all kinds of ordinary light. Sometimes the image is reversed. I wasn't sure if it was my brain playing games with me.

[@antonnym214]

This is very good and absolutely essential information. Thank you and Bless you! I have a friend in Australia (Hi Jackie!) who was blinded in one eye by a solar eclipse. Not by substandard glasses. It was an inadvertent glance as a child, but it serves to highlight the importance of protecting one's eyes during an eclipse.

[@AstronomyGarage]

I'm sorry to hear about your friends injury. I hope you have an excellent eclipse day.

[@hamsterama]

That's scary! I'm in central Ohio, and I'll be right in the path of the solar eclipse. I plan to have my windows open to see the darkness outside, but I'll be watching it on TV. I'm not willing let a couple thin pieces of plastic glued to cardboard stand between myself and my eyesight. I would be paranoid of the glasses slipping off my face at exactly the wrong moment, or something. By the way, in the early 90's, we had a partial solar eclipse, which took place during school recess time. We were kept inside for recess, because of the danger. We weren't allowed to used glasses or anything like that.

[@mangeload]

I remember that. We didn't have eclipse glasses back then. Everyone was instructed to make analog cardboard shadow viewers in the morning before we went outside, but there always was one jackass that had to look at the sun raw dawg. That jackass was me, and 30-plus years later, I still have better than 20/20 vision. I have been naked sungazing, wearing nothing but a condom for years. Just make sure to open a fresh magnum, it's the only way. Your eyes will get stronger with practice, just make sure to only gaze in the early morning or at dusk, and you'll be fine. I can never wear sunglasses. I don't like things hanging from my face. I don't even wear eye protection when I'm operating my chainsaw & leaf blower, I would rather have unobstructed view than have an accident happen because I didn't see something.

[@mangeload]

I do tree service, Clevelander born & raised. Ahhh, the 90s, the good old days when people actually did stuff 😮

[@ivangottapseudonym8849]

Thank you so much for making this video. I shared it with many reluctant solar observers here in North East Ohio. Once they tested their solar observation glasses, they were much emboldened to observe the glorious partial phases of the Eclipse.

[@owl3144]

Thank you for this. I just checked my glasses from Walmart. I can see my weak, puny flashlight thru them and they are not on the approved list. You have done me a great service.

[@owl3144]

BTW, they do say iso approved on them - so maybe one of the fakes?

[@AstronomyGarage]

Can you see light fixtures inside your home? Try this one: Go outside during the middle of the day and look at the horizon (away from the Sun). You shouldn't see anything.

[@weareprobablyinanarguement]

You probably saved so many people! Thanks to you, I confirmed that my glasses were safe (I have Soluna glasses, by the way).

[@AstronomyGarage]

We also have Soluna brand too in addition to Rainbow Symphony. Both are excellent. Have a great eclipse day!

[@weareprobablyinanarguement]

@@AstronomyGarage Thanks

[@jmurphy6767]

This was very helpful. Thank you. AAS’s unalphabetized lists were not as helpful as they could be.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Apparently they do that so that they don't favor any single company. I think they re-arrange it every week.

[@Scott-ew7nr]

I used Ctrl + F to find the company I bought from.

[@Sekir80]

@@AstronomyGarageWow, what an interesting tidbit!

[@ratamacue0320]

If you're looking for a particular name on the list, use the find function in your browser.

[@dancooper6002]

Ever heard of Ctrl+F?

[@KatieDarden]

Thank you - I was fascinated (and glad) that I was unable to see anything through the lenses of the glasses I bought online.I did your tests. My glasses see a little more than yours, but not nearly what the "bad" ones do. I also looked them up, and the manufacturer is on the list. Thanks for helping me verify.

[@AstronomyGarage]

We've tested a lot of them this week and there is a slight variability. However, none of them are as bad as the ones I bought online. If I go outside with those and look at the horizon, I can see clouds, cars, houses, trees, etc.

[@aliensinnoh1]

Same. I got mine from American Paper Optics, which is on the list. When I look at an LED bulb, I see the entire bulb.

[@ffggddss]

So the ISO standard has a requirement for total attenuation of light. Isn't there also a spectral specification? I forget whether it's UV or IR (or both), but if enough of the non-visible part of the spectrum gets through, that's what causes retinal damage, and without your even being able to see it. Addendum: For the answer, see his 2nd video, "Fake Eclipse Glasses - Part 2 . . ." - there's a link to it in the Description. (Hint: It's about UV.) Fred

[@AstronomyGarage]

In part 2 of this video series, I do a poor mans test for UV.

[@ViraL_FootprinT.ex.e]

I didn't know there were fake ones circulating, but I just used the ones someone at work gave me in 2012.

[@l.riggins1857]

Although UV is known to cause aging and cataracts in the eye from repeated or long exposures, the primary concern for eye safety during solar eclipses is visible light. The eyes tissues are designed to transmit the visible spectrum of light. Looking directly at the sun or worse, looking through magnification, transmits the visible energy through to the retina in the back of the eye, causing damage. By contrast, the light outside the visible spectrum is absorbed or reflected by the outer tissues of the eye. This leaves the retina largely protected. The non-visible energy aborbed by the outer layers of the eye is not considered a health factor for the short duration of an eclipse. These outer layers develop cataracts after long, repeated exposure, normally over years.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for posting. I've come up with a way to sortof measure UV transmittance. I should have it done later this week.

[@2112user]

I've seen China fake the "Made in the USA" tag and UL approved tag, I have little doubt they would not hesitate to do the same with the ISO to make a sale.

[@vicz8899]

They do. Long time ago I bought a cheap pair of "100% UV protection" sun glasses that ended up frying my eyes.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Oh no!

[@spambot7110]

you're saying the whole country of china got together and did this? very strange. you are aware china is like, a place, with different people and organizations and stuff in it right?

[@freevipservers]

@@spambot7110 When you name something like that, you are indirectly stating the country is commonly scamming. He is talking about the manufacturers, not the innocent people.

[@john_in_phoenix]

​​@@spambot7110 Most important in this case is that China is a place where infant formula was poisoned to make a buck. Laws, regulations and enforcement in China is close to nonexistent, despite it being a large country with a huge population. Corruption is rampant.

[@justinbaker2883]

This was too good. That like button bit was amazing

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for watching. Hope it was helpful.

[@tquist61]

Thanks for putting out this informative video. I had already purchased protective glasses for my family, but in the back of my mind I was hoping I made a good choice. Thankfully, our glasses past all three tests and the manufacturer was on the approved list, so we're all set to go! Now, hoping for clear skies...

[@Artheon]

Thanks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Holy smokes! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support!

[@AidanS99]

GREAT VIDEO!!! I almost bought a pair of faulty solar eclipse glasses. You really saved my behind! Thanks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have a great eclipse day!

[@MrKasenom]

thank you for making this video! I unfortunately got counterfeit glasses from amazon, so I'm buying one from a vendor on the AAS list

[@boobookitty21]

Thank you for making this video! I'm in Austin ready and waiting for the eclipse with my glasses!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. We're up in DFW, eagerly awaiting our 30 seconds of totality.

[@therealmizi]

I told my mom about the eclipse and she’s buying glasses for the whole family so I think we will go and see it! Thanks for this video you helped a lot of people not get blind or damage their eyes.

[@Habb317]

Thanks!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Wow! Thank you! That was very kind of you. Be sure to check out Part 2 of this video. :)

[@auntlynnie]

Thank you so much! I was nervous about the glasses I bought, but they’re listed with AAS and meet the ISO standard. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have a great eclipse day. :)

[@auntlynnie]

@@AstronomyGarageYou, too! I already shared your post to Facebook. As I live very near the path of totality, lots of my friends and family will be watching. ❤

[@Tom-cf2wk]

Thank you very much for making this video. My MRS bought some from Amazon and I knew I had to find time to research if they were legit. You saved me some time. Much appreciated!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

[@sleepdeep305]

You are a true saint. I’ve been skeptical of purchasing a pair of glasses and have been putting it off…now I can truly prepare for the eclipse.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Kind words, but I'm just happy to help. Thank you for watching and have a great eclipse day.

[@ihugcats4624]

Shared everywhere! Glad there's simple ways to test and prevent permanent damage.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks for watching... and sharing! Have a great eclipse day.

[@alainparent1337]

Thank you SO MUCH for this video. The ones we got from our local eye doctor have are legitimate, but some we go from another source did not pass the test. We are advising everyone we know that have the sub standard ones.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Were the second-source glasses on the AAS.org list? Did they seem dark enough? I'm curious what people are finding. Have a great eclipse day!

[@jimselzle3782]

Very glad I saw this video. I have 2 brands of glasses - one that is on the AAS website, one that is not. The one on the AAS website tested much better using the tests you have in this video. I'll be trashing the other brand (the one not on the AAS website). Both by the way indicated they met the ISO 12312-2 standards.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for trashing the bad ones - that'll save somebody some potential trouble.

[@StarPrincessTally]

So helpful! I got a brand off the approved AAS list but my glasses didn't hold up to these tests so I just ordered a 2nd set to be safe. Without proper tests I can't be sure but I don't want to risk it

[@konetashelton4130]

Whewwww, I checked out my Eclipse glasses.....and I'm good to go. Thank you for your video.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a happy eclipse day!

[@cherylmills150]

Genuinely appreciate your expertise as I feel much more comfortable in knowing that my lens are on the approved list.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have a great eclipse day!

[@rickkarrer8370]

Great video, this is exactly what I need to test the glasses I just ordered. One note: LEDs (fluorescent / CFL) don’t have filaments. LEDs have diodes, and fluorescents have, well, plasma.

[@NC8ED]

FYI A filament is a conducting WIRE with a high MELTING point, forming part of an electric bulb or VACUUM tube and heated or made INCANDESCENT by an electric current. Light-Emitting Diodes are heavily doped p-n junctions. They can be made to resemble filaments.

[@pancake2700]

I was wondering this as he kept talking about filaments. I don’t totally understand all the science behind it but I was the weird child that liked big/unusual words and when I learned what a filament was I just HAD to point them out to everyone all the time cuz I thought the word was so fun. I didn’t think LEDs had them and was confused by that so thank you for this comment

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I have always used the cardboard camera obscura to view any solar events. By cutting a hole in a large sheet of cardboard, about the size of an orange, then taping a sheet of aluminum foil over the hole, and then cutting a hole about the size of a grape, you will have a nice solar shade, and camera obscura in which the light of the sun will be blocked, yet you can see an image of the sun on the ground. By moving the cardboard closer and away from the ground, you can focus the image of the sun so it will be very clear, yet you won't hurt your eyes as with bad glasses, or other incorrect ways of looking at the sun. The image should be good enough to be able to see sunspots, as well as the eclipse.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Excellent point. The camera obscura (a variant of the pinhole camera) is a great way to visualize the Sun and a solar eclipse.

[@gblargg]

That's what I used last year during the (non-total) eclipse when we didn't have glasses. Cardboard box with a tiny hole in it.

[@JimTesty]

"the size of a grape"? Wouldn't that be way too blurry? Wouldn't the optimal size be around 1mm?

[@dubmob151]

Maybe plan ahead and drill a hole in the roof over the living room, and set up a projection screen on the floor- It'll be awesome. Unless it rains, then it'll be a drag.

[@safewayman]

Only 25 seconds in and already just want to say, how lovely and beautiful of you to make a video like this! Always good to spread good word to keep us fellow humans safe, appreciate you good sir and may God Bless you! Much love!❤️❤️❤️

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

[@vastated]

THANK YOU! The kids and I have two brands of solar Eclipse Glasses. We put them up to these tests and one brand fell short! Test your glasses (Shown in video) and look up the brand on the AAS aproved brands!!! you can add 4 paires on eyes saved.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you for your comment. We were in a similar situation. Have a great eclipse day!

[@PhatBoyFresh]

Mine come from American Paper Optics. I bought them at a Save-a-Lot grocery store. Glad I checked everything just to be safe. Thanks for the info.

[@AstronomyGarage]

American Paper Optics is on the AAS list. Have a great eclipse day!

[@Crimsoth]

Got Kesseph brand on amazon for 10.59, 5 pack and comes with a photo filter. Thank you for providing that link to that list, I was able to verify that the ones I purchased come from a verified manufacturer/seller. I was actually wondering if the ones I purchased was legit and this helped immensely. Thank you!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

[@applebottomjeans7]

Wish I had seen this earlier. My eyes hurt after the eclipse and we just found out that our glasses are not safe.😣

[@stevenp748]

This was really helpful, and I enjoyed the presentation style. Thanks for putting this together.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stormycat774]

Thanks for reminding me fake glasses existed. Bought a pack off of amazon, so naturally, I had to go check them, because amazon. Thankfully, they had the right ISO information on them, and although I had to scroll pretty far down, the manufacturer was on the list, so I'm feeling alright.

[@AstronomyGarage]

You should be good, but just in case, check each one. I've read reports of people getting boxes of them and some of them were defective. Those were, of course, non-AAS approved glasses. I suspect yours are good. Happy eclipse day.

[@MixingMagic09]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I was really nervous when I heard about fake eclipse glasses and this was helpful. I just checked and my glasses are safe!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great day tomorrow!

[@jacksonsteward4642]

Mine too

[@chloesimone8885]

They are all the same the sun doesn’t harm your eyes sun glasses will let u see it if it’s to bright to look directly during times the suns at it’s strongest between 12-3 before or after than is ideal to start sun gazing & improve your eyes & health I can look at the sun any time my eyesight is perfect

[@TheStevecas9860]

@Reflactor John This is the most important video you have done! To Protect people's eyes! I have been Harping on for many years about so-called sun filters on eyepieces and proper Solar filters to help people get the right ISO filters to protect their eyes! Well done John this video shows exactly what people need! Folks share like the video and get it out to as many groups people you can think of, it could save someone's eye from Damage or Blindness!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks Steve. Hopefully this helps some people avoid injuring their eyes.

[@diyamerican]

Thank you! You have saved many eyes 👀

[@gblargg]

I'm sure the counterfeiters appreciate your video on what to change so theirs appears genuine. /s The worst thing is glasses that DO block a lot of visible light, but don't block IR and UV.

[@AstronomyGarage]

That combination would be especially evil.

[@zerospace101]

They will always find a way, what is he supposed to do, just say nothing and let people fry their eyes through counterfeited glasses? Better he lets people know about it. Just do not buy the cheapest ones because they are cheap. Spend 5 minutes and do a bit of research and comparisons

[@gblargg]

@@zerospace101 Basically the only way is from vetted distributors. You can't trust the product's representation, only a chain of trust starting with who you buy it from.;

[@zerospace101]

Like I said, I scrutinized before I bought. I did research on the product and where it was coming from. You are right though, you cannot trust things these days at face value, especially things like this that affect your health.

[@chosenone9074]

4/8/2024: Thank you. You may have saved my eyes and my kids' eyes by having this video available. I stumbled upon this video after viewing an educational video about solar eclipse with my kids. They were so interested in seeing the event that I got some pairs of solar eclipse glasses today at the last minute. The first thing I did was checking the quality of the glasses by following the steps on your video. They were not good solar eclipse glasses, just like the fake one you showed in your video. I am so glad I viewed your video and also checked the glasses before handing them to my kids. As you said, they had the ISO Certified and ISO12312.2 labels on the glasses.

[@AstronomyGarage]

If I may ask, did they only fail the camera flash test? As the caption in the video mentions, your flash may be brighter than mine. Look at other indoor fixtures (fluorescent bulbs, etc.). Go outside and look at the horizon Away from the Sun. You shouldn't really see anything.

[@chosenone9074]

@@AstronomyGarage I tried them all. I even put them on for a couple of seconds and look at the sun while squintingmy eyes. I automatically felt discomfort. There is no name of the brand either. So, I am not gonna take a chance and use them.

[@lindaward5376]

Thanks for the info. I obtained my eclipse glasses from my local science centre, and I'm happy to say that they passed all three tests with flying colours, so I'm good to go!!

[@aSipOfHemlocktea]

Fun fact I can't look directly at the sun without sneezing

[@AstronomyGarage]

Same! Walking out of a movie theater causes a series of sneezes. It's somewhat common and has been known about since the time of the Greeks. Have a great eclipse day!

[@reaper5242]

It's called Autosomal-dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (achoo) also known as photic sneeze reflex or sun sneezing. Some people have a similar thing when experiencing love or arousal, as well as many other strange triggers.

[@musicnutzunite]

Same. A majority of humans can't look at the sun without sneezing.

[@gameratortylerstein5636]

Me too

[@WednesdaysDragon]

​@reaper5242 A lot of people chatter, very few it seems can inform! Thanks! 🙂

[@kraetyz]

Thank you for this video! A few days ago, I did cursory research and ordered a pack of eclipse glasses online (because good luck finding any in a store around where I live), and of course I'm appropriately cautious/paranoid. Going through the checks you presented here were a big help in confirming that yes, I bought fully functional eclipse glasses. From Medical King, if anyone's curious.

[@AstronomyGarage]

We've personally tested a few folks Medical King glasses here in town and they all seem legit.

[@YunxiaoChu]

Led does not have filament The bright spot is the diode part ,the rest of the lamp is just support wiring and mirrors

[@AstronomyGarage]

You are correct. My choice of words was incorrect.

[@YunxiaoChu]

@@AstronomyGarage loolololololololololololololol

[@CricketsBay]

Thank you for making this video. Here's something fun: Anyone who has a leafy tree to stand under should look at the ground around the tree during the solar eclipse. The spaces between the leaves create thousands of moving crescent moon shapes on the ground. Do not look up at the Sun through the leaves without Eclipse Glasses though.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Admittedly, the pinhole effect through the leaves is one of my favorite things to see during an eclipse. I even made a one-minute video about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHzJnGpuncqEiNU

[@Pila426]

I did that when I was a substitute teacher back in the 1990s. The students had made shoebox viewers for a partial solar eclipse, but there wasn't an extra one for me. When the class went outside to view the eclipse, I looked at the sidewalk and could see multiple little eclipse shapes made by the tree leaf shadows.

[@kbellijelli]

Thank you! I checked and the glasses I bought were fakes!! Lied about ISO and everything 😭 thankful that you posted this! I thought they were blocking enough light but it was definitely not when I saw your examples. Got new ones off the AAS list!

[@artyombeilis9075]

Very good job, informative and referring to standard!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thanks! I knew I had to be relatively thorough on this video because of the implications. I want to prevent people from damaging their eyes.

[@dec2462]

Thank you! Sure enough I had bad ones, you saved our eyesight!

[@AstronomyGarage]

I'm glad this helped. For what it's worth there are chances that the brand didn't make it onto the approved AAS list by their cutoff date last month, but the chances of that are slim. My "bad" glasses are so bad that I can almost walk around outside without bumping into things. I can see the ground, cars, horizon, etc.

[@petoperceptum]

I remember I was mucking about with my mate's spare welding gear. I could quite clearly see the disc of the sun reflected off of windows (think of how little light isnt transmitted through your window). Also remember that in the gloom of totality or near-totality your eyes are going to open up and are especially vulnerable. There are no substitutes if you are observing directly.

[@FUGP72]

Even if it is a pretty small sliver still uncovered, your pupils will be small.

[@blueblockybirdd]

Put this on my watch later!! I'm receiving solar eclipse glasses soon. I'll watch this again to test them!

[@sandywich7834]

Thank you for this video and the peace of mind it just gave me! I checked our glasses when I first got them and they seemed fine, marked with ISO rating and statement that they're safe for direct sun viewing. I put them on and could only see a small bit of light from a really bright lightbulb. But I just did the phone test and could see light through the lens so I got a bit worried that'd I'd been duped. I checked the AAS list and found our glasses are from an approved manufacturer. Whew!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Your phone camera is probably brighter than mine. The AAS list is really the gold standard. Have a great eclipse day!

[@bortiz805]

Thank you kindly. I appreciate this so much!

[@nicsxnin6786]

Thx for the video. Good advice for everyone to be careful with these glasses!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. I wish this video wasn't needed - I prefer to make fun telescope videos. In the grand scheme of things, my channel is way to small to make much of a dent, but hopefully it saves some people from hurting their eyes.

[@VideoManDan]

Thank you very much for that included link. What you were saying about fake glasses being made concerned me that I might have accidentally bought knockoffs that aren't on the approved list. I checked the list and Medical King, manufactured in China, is on the approved list. Phew! 😎

[@AstronomyGarage]

I've personally inspected a friends set of glasses from Medical King and they were good.

[@VideoManDan]

@@AstronomyGarage The glasses performed perfectly for the total solar eclipse in upstate NY! 😁🥳

[@perimele6]

The AAS approved vendor list is very useful.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Yes, it really is the gold standard. They vet all of the suppliers and look at their certification papers.

[@LaPrincipessaNuova]

Thanks so much! My dad sent something about the fake glasses this morning that had me a little worried mine might be, but I was able to verify they were good thanks to this video! Would have sucked to find out the day of, so I’m glad mine checked out!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Hope you had good views of eclipse.

[@MonicaDempsey-wl6kg]

What should I do if I used a fake pair to look at the eclipse? After already having looked at the eclipse using these glasses, I saw this video and decided to test if these glasses were real. As it turns out; they fail all the test and are not included in the approved list. The glasses came from my local credit union and they have the credit union logo on it (so they aren't an official eclipse glasses company and aren't sold online). What are the permanent side effects of looking at the eclipse with these fake glasses?

[@AstronomyGarage]

Do your eyes hurt? The official report on eclipse eye injuries has a generally positive longterm prognosis, but you may want to follow up with an eye doctor. Here's the report: eclipse.aas.org/sites/eclipse.aas.org/files/AAS-Chou-Solar-Eclipse-Eye-Safety.pdf

[@MatthewHolevinski]

I'm wondering if some really cheap eclipse glasses and a good long solar viewing would increase my pinball game...

[@AstronomyGarage]

This is the most esoteric joke I've heard all year... and I laughed and laughed. Thank you.

[@frostfoxen]

Criminally underrated comment...

[@dubmob151]

Truly Eltonian

[@TonyTheYouTuba]

Thank you for your top work here, and I hope the clouds part for you and the channel keeps growing!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Thank you. This video has gone into orbit compared to my other telescope restoration videos.

[@lindadunlap2927]

My recommendation would be to NOT stare at the eclipse for long periods of time regardless of your glasses. I plan to just occasionally glance at it.

[@dragonsword7370]

thanks! I had already checked them out without knowing and could barely see the diode "filaments" of my brightest set of LED headlamp lights. 900+lumens. Bought from Eclipsee and Bookish bunny and was happy to see them on the registered list of manufacturers and providers. You helped me out by fleshing out the info on this! Hope everyone on the path gets a good and healthy eyefull of the eclipse monday!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have a great eclipse day!

[@niteman555]

Wouldn't the minimum just be to ensure that it's possible to see through the filter? It wouldn't do to have a completely opaque solar filter.

[@AstronomyGarage]

I guess that's true. You might say that a solid filter would technically also be fraudulent. But it wouldn't lead to retinal damage.

[@SlyPearTree]

Thanks for making this.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day.

[@wattswheelhouse]

Great video! Scary that these things are being sold to people. Definitely missed the opportunity for a Jeff Goldblum "Light, uh... finds a way." quote. 😂

[@AstronomyGarage]

That really was a missed opportunity for sure! If I make another eclipse video, I'm going to steal that idea. :)

[@SpeedyCotton55]

Thank you so very much. I was able to verify mine is fine.

[@halliebairey9678]

Thanks for the info! I just checked to make sure the store I work at is selling an approved brand of solar eclipse glasses, which it is fortunately!

[@oamdrab]

Thank you! However, it bugged me immensely that you referred to a diode as a filament.

[@AstronomyGarage]

You are correct. I try to use the correct terms, but sometimes my brain is stuck in the 20th century, lol.

[@debbiep99]

Yay the glasses i bought are on the list 😊

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

Not sure where to get good ones? Local universities, astronomy clubs, etc often distribute glasses that have been tested or endorsed by trustworthy organizations such as NASA.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Local astronomy clubs usually have quite a few and they don't charge very much (some give them out for free).

[@TheVirtualTim]

NASA does not specifically endorse any product or vendor. What they DO promote is the ISO 12312-2 standard and that the American Astronomical Website’s list of manufacturers and sellers is a good resource. But be very careful to make sure you are getting glasses that really are from the manufacturer. For example, I’ve already heard of a case where glasses were being sold under the name of a trusted manufacturer turned out to be fakes (they were not sold through the manufacturer’s store).

[@canvasjockey4628]

Thank you for this! I just got a package of solar eclipse glasses and a filter for my camera via Amazon (ordered before I saw this video)... and was glad to stumble upon this guidance on testing to make sure they are safe (with enough time to perhaps order safe ones if not). Good news is that they both passed all the tests, so we're ready for the eclipse next week!

[@AstronomyGarage]

Have fun!

[@April-lp7pp]

Thank you so much for this. I hope everyone sees it.

[@AstronomyGarage]

Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!