Are your eclipse glasses compliant with the 12312-2:2015 ISO standard?

Here is a quick checklist!

In 2017, many people bought very inexpensive eclipse glasses, and then couldn't use them because they weren't sure the glasses were ISO compliant.
Now in 2024, many cheap glasses are flooding the market, and we are receiving reports that many organizations are buying on price rather than quality.
Just like in 2017, some people who have (or use) these glasses may end up disappointed.

Here are the facts.

You can check that your eclipse glasses are in compliance with the ISO standard! Here is what you need to look for (or ask about):

• 1) The glasses must be manufactured by a reputable manufacturer
• 2) That manufacturer's name must be printed on the glasses
• 3) The glasses must be certified by an ISO-approved lab
• 4) The glasses must be sold (and imported, if applicable) by an approved organization

Let's take these one by one:

1) The glasses must be manufactured by a reputable manufacturer

This one should be obvious. If the manufacturer is not reputable, then who knows what lens material they are using? If they are reputable, then they'll use only lens film that comes from a trusted and tested source. If they run low on lens material, they won't be tempted to use material that is of lesser quality.

You can tell whether a manufacturer is reputable by checking the American Astronomical Society's approved list of eclipse glasses manufacturers.

Of course, Eclipse2024.org is on the list of approved eclipse glasses resellers! Order your eclipse glasses with complete confidence!

2) That manufacturer's name must be printed on the glasses

This is the easy one for you to check. If the manufacturer is reputable, they'll want the advertising that comes from putting their name on their product. They're willing to stake their reputation on the fact that their glasses are safe to use. What's more, THE ISO STANDARD REQURES THAT THEY DO THIS!

So, if the glasses you've been given do not include a manufacturer's name on them, then they are immediately and without question NOT in compliance with the ISO standard. In this case, you should wonder why it would be that a manufacturer would choose not to put their name on their product. You should ask whoever gave the glasses to you who made them. If they can't (or won't) tell you, then that is your answer!

You can't check a manufacturer against the AAS listing of approved manufacturers, if you don't know who that manufacturer is!

** Using glasses that don't show who made them means you are taking a great risk. **

Of course, Eclipse2024.org sells ONLY USA-made eclipse glasses!

3) The glasses must be certified by an ISO-approved lab

This one is harder to check, but suffice it to say that it's not possible to just start up a company who "certifies" eclipse glasses. The certification company themselves must go through their own certification process to become ISO-compliant. This is another reason to trust the AAS listing of approved manufacturers.

And NASA does not approve eclipse glasses! If the outfit you're looking at says their glasses are "NASA-approved", that's what's called "marketing" :-)

4) The glasses must be sold (and imported, if applicable) by an approved organization

The chain of custody of the eclipse glasses is important, and once again we have the AAS list of approved vendors and importers to rely on. You should be able to find the name of the organization who supplied the glasses on this list; if you don't, then this brings the safety of the glasses into question.

Eclipse2024.org takes eye safety VERY seriously. We are working on ways to help everyone who may have questions about the safety of the eclipse glasses they've been provided (or that they bought). Please look for that information coming soon!