Important Information About Solar Eclipse Glasses from Brookfield Library

Solar Eclipse Glasses

It has come to our attention that there have been some counterfeit solar eclipse glasses being sold that falsely state that they are ISO compliant.  Unfortunately, we were not able to obtain the free solar glasses provided to some libraries from the Space Science Institute.  

Our glasses were purchased from Amazon, glasses that were certified to be safe.  However, Amazon has determined that some of their suppliers sold glasses were not actually ISO compliant, and they have contacted those who purchased the questionable glasses.  We have not been contacted, but would like to advise caution in using these glasses, as we have not been able to determine definitively that these glasses are actually ISO compliant. While the glasses have the required standards and logo, it is possible this information was pirated.  

The American Astronomical Society, a National Science Foundation, has issued the following information for testing your glasses:

“How can you tell if your solar viewer is not safe? You shouldn't be able to see anything through a safe solar filter except the Sun itself or something comparably bright, such as the Sun reflected in a mirror, a sun glint off shiny metal, the hot filament of an unfrosted incandescent light bulb, a bright halogen light bulb, a bright-white LED bulb (including the flashlight on your smartphone), a bare compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb, or an arc-welding torch. All such sources (except perhaps the welding torch) should appear quite dim through a solar viewer. If you can see shaded lamps or other common household light fixtures (not bare bulbs) of more ordinary brightness through your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer, and you're not sure the product came from a reputable vendor, it’s no good. Safe solar filters produce a view of the Sun that is comfortably bright (like the full Moon), in focus, and surrounded by dark sky. If you glance at the Sun through your solar filter and find it uncomfortably bright, out of focus, and/or surrounded by a bright haze, it’s no good.”

Here at the library, we tested our supply of Solar Eclipse viewing glasses using these guidelines and they appear to meet the criteria for safe use.  However, we encourage you to test yours, especially if you received a pair elsewhere.  If you are still looking for viewing glasses, we want to let you know that our supply has been depleted.

For more information on the upcoming eclipse, please check out https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/.