Here's how to get free solar eclipse glasses in Texas and how to know they're safe
Alexis SimmermanThe 2024 solar eclipse is fast approaching, and tourists, school districts and even entire counties are preparing for the big day.
Where are the best spots to view the total solar eclipse in Texas? Here are a few options
As Texans make viewing arrangements for April 8, perhaps the most important question to ask is ...
Where can I get free solar eclipse glasses?
Retail company Warby Parker is giving away free, ISO-certified solar glasses in preparation of the event. They will be available April 1-8 or while supplies last.
Click here to find a Warby Parker near you.
Toward the end of March, Texas A&M University Libraries will offer free solar eclipse glasses while supplies last.
Click here to see the complete schedule.
Several school districts are also providing free glasses. The Solar Eclipse Safety Glasses Grant Application is now closed, but the program states that it has provided the necessary funding for more than 3,000 classrooms.
Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries has also run out of its supply of glasses and closed registration.
How to tell if your solar eclipse glasses are safe
Guidelines for safely viewing the solar eclipse can be found on the American Astronomical Society’s site.
"We do not recommend searching for eclipse glasses on Amazon, eBay, Temu, or any other online marketplace and buying from whichever vendor offers the lowest price," the site cautions.
It recommends that before buying a solar viewer or filter online, people make sure that the seller is identified on the site they are using and is listed on the American Astronomical Society's website.
Some Texas schools are canceling classes for the solar eclipse on April 8. Is yours?
The society has listed reliable companies selling eclipse-viewing equipment and categorized them according to the type of equipment.
If you buy eclipse glasses, be sure they are made by companies the American Astronomical Society and NASA have certified as safe for use. They should all have the "ISO" (International Organization for Standardization) icon. The glasses also must have the ISO reference number 12312-2.
Eclipse glasses, handheld solar viewers
- Seymour Solar (sheets only)
- Flip'n Shades (clip-ons for baseball caps)
- DayStar Filters
- Thousand Oaks Optical
- Halo Eclipse Spectacles
- American Paper Optics / eclipseglasses.com
- Rainbow Symphony
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Telescopes
View from the sky: Delta Air Lines is offering 2024 solar eclipse flight from Austin to Detroit
Where to find solar eclipse glasses in stores
While the American Astronomical Society lists large retailers selling eclipse-viewing equipment, it also warns against online purchases. Products sold on companies' sites might use different suppliers from those sold in stores.
Where is the best place to see the total solar eclipse in Texas?
The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, home to about 7 million people, falls into the path of totality, according to the Great American Eclipse website. About 12 million Texans will have optimal viewing of the eclipse — more than in any other U.S. state.
Solar eclipse:Where are the best spots to view the total solar eclipse in Texas?
More than 20 Texas school districts have canceled April 8 classes in anticipation of the natural phenomenon. Eclipse-themed events are planned throughout the state, for locals and tourists alike. This includes the Vampire Weekend show in Austin, where the New York rock band is scheduled to perform during the eclipse. Several Texas counties have issued disaster declarations for the eclipse.
Solar eclipse:An ultimate guide to total solar eclipse 2024 events in Central Texas
Making solar eclipse viewers at home
Materials for a pinhole projector:
- A cardboard box
- White paper
- Aluminum foil
- Tape
You can even use a kitchen colander to view the eclipse by looking at the shadow the colander casts on a piece of paper.