Shop Solar Eclipse Glasses For The Upcoming Partial Solar Eclipse
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There's a rare sunrise solar eclipse coming Saturday, March 29, as a partial solar eclipse will be visible from eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. Be sure to set your alarms on Saturday morning between 4:50 a.m. and 8:43 a.m. ET to witness the partial solar eclipse if you're one of the 800 million people in the eclipse viewing area.
To be able to watch this sunrise in the shape of a Cheshire Cat grin, though, you'll need the proper eyewear. We outline some tips to keep in mind when buying your solar eclipse glasses, as well as a few top picks that could still make it on time for our eclipse watchers.
The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR), and looking at the sun wearing anything that isn't specially designed to deal with both the visible light and invisible radiation could cause major injury, including blindness.
The only safe way to view a full or partially-eclipsed sun is through solar filters (also known as eclipse glasses) or handheld solar viewers, and it's critical that these filters must meet the safety requirements of ISO 12312-2.
Solar eclipse glasses are made of black polymer, a flexible resin infused with carbon particles that are about 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses and block nearly all visible light (as well as UV and IR).
You cannot use regular glasses or a smartphone to see the solar eclipse - you must get glasses that are specially designed to block out the sun's rays. Viewing any part of the sun through a camera, binoculars or a telescope without a special solar filter can cause an immediate severe eye injury.
There are smartphone lens filters, however, that will allow you to view the eclipse through your phone lens without it potentially damaging your lenses.
American Paper Optics is the premier brand when it comes to solar eclipse glasses. When buying, make sure there is proper labeling on the inside of each pair of glasses, including wearing instructions and ISO certification.
When we last spoke with The Weather Channel's on-camera meteorologist, Danielle Banks, she said, 'Be really careful when buying from any third-party sellers. Make sure the glasses meet the proper safety standards so you don't hurt your eyes.'
You can certainly shop through Amazon, just make sure the glasses have a proper ISO certification listed on the glasses and the shopping page. Another good resource is B&H Photo, which offers a selection starting at a single pair of solar eclipse glasses, up to hundreds in a bundle.
Shop It: Amazon
Price: $6.99 at Amazon
Shop It: $6.99 at Amazon
Features:
Made by NASA-approved manufacturer American Paper Optics
CE and ISO certified for direct sun viewing, according to company
Scratch-resistant silver polymer lense material
Shop It: Amazon
Price: $9.99 at Amazon
Shop It: $9.99 at Amazon
Features:
10-pack of non-polarized solar eclipse glasses
Bonsu smartphone photo filter
CE and ISO certified according to company
Shop It: B&H Photo
Price: $18.95 at BHPhotoVideo.com
Shop It: $18.95 at BHPhotoVideo.com
Features:
ISO 12312-2 certified for solar viewing, according to company
Blocks 100% of harmful UV & IR light
Blocks 99.999% of intense visible light
Shop It: Amazon
Price: starting at $2.71 at Amazon
Shop It: starting at $2.71 at Amazon
Features:
Designed to capture images of the sun and protect your phone or camera lens
Hold filter in front of smartphone lens with correct side facing the sun
Not designed for direct sun viewing
MORE ON WEATHER.COM
This Month Hosts A Rare Sunrise Eclipse
Look Up: The Top Celestial Events Of 2025
Here's What To Know About Solar Eclipse Glasses
Price accurate and items in stock at time of publish.
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