The total solar eclipse has officially ended, but not after showing millions of people across North America the beauty of the universe, and many are now wondering what they can do about their solar eclipse glasses.
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) said that eclipse glasses that meet a specific safety standard, known as ISO 12312-2, are safe to reuse.
This means that the same glasses worn during the 2024 cosmic event can still protect a person's eyes during the next total solar eclipse, expected to occur in 2026.
Solar Eclipse Glasses
That particular solar event will be visible over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small portion of Portugal. It will also appear as a partial eclipse in several parts of Africa, Europe, and North America.
According to CNN, solar eclipse glasses can also protect a wearer's eyes in 2044 during the expected total solar eclipse, which scientists said will be visible from the contiguous United States over North Dakota and Montana. But many of those glasses have expiration dates after just a few years.
If you do keep the glasses, the editor of AAS Nova, Dr. Kerry Hensley, said that it is best to store them away from anything sharp that could scratch or puncture the filters.
He added that if there is any doubt that the glasses are not safe, they should be thrown away and not used anymore.
Hensley added that it is harmful to reuse solar eclipse glasses if the lenses appear to be scratched, ripped, or punctured or if their solar filter is detached from the frame.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology also noted that people should dispose of damaged or scratched solar eclipse glasses by removing the lenses and recycling the cardboard.
The AAS also advises against using water or liquid glass cleaner to clean the lenses, as this could ruin the cardboard and cause the lenses to detach.
They said that while some glasses include a warning to discard them if they are over three years old, the warning is outdated and does not apply to those that meet the safety standard.
Watching Future Cosmic Events
People who do not plan to reuse their undamaged solar eclipse glasses or those who plan to buy new ones for the next events can donate theirs to others.
The non-profit group Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) has partnered with several libraries, schools, museums, businesses, and other organizations across the U.S. and Canada, Space reports.
The group will work on collecting and recycling gently used solar eclipse glasses, and they will send them to underserved communities and schools worldwide. These will then be used to view future cosmic events.
After the 2017 total solar eclipse, AWB collected more than 2 million glasses and redistributed hundreds of thousands of pairs before this year's cosmic event. The group also has a growing list of drop-off locations for donations of solar eclipse glasses.
Eclipse Glasses USA is a retailer approved by the AAS and collects used but undamaged glasses. They will send these to schools in Chile and Argentina, where the October 2024 annular eclipse, otherwise known as the "ring of fire," can be viewed from, said Yahoo News.
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