Here’s Where You Can Donate Your Solar Eclipse Glasses
So you bought solar eclipse glasses – now what do you do with them? We’ve got the details!
The 2024 solar eclipse has passed, and if you bought or scored solar eclipse glasses for free, you may be wondering what to do with them now. The next total solar eclipse won’t happen within bordering states until 2044, and it’s reonlinemended that you don’t use solar eclipse glasses that are more than three years old.
The non-profit Astronomers Without Borders is collecting glasses to send around the world for people to use during uponlineing solar eclipse events. Head into your local Warby Parker to donate your glasses, or if you live in Indiana, Ohio, or Vermont, there are additional donation spots. Or, you can send your glasses to Eclipse Glasses, USA and they will send them to school-aged children in Latin America for the October 2024 viewing of their total solar eclipse.
You may also want to check with local businesses, as we’ve spotted a few offering discounts in exchange for your unneeded glasses.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between our planet and the Sun, blocking the view of the Sun from Earth. The natural phenomenon is (no pun intended) a sight to see, and lasted for about 2.5 hours, with the peak being about an hour after you first are able to observe it.
When was the 2024 solar eclipse?
On Monday, April 8th, a total solar eclipse was seen across Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
The eclipse was first seen about 11:07 PDT on Mexico’s Pacific coast before beonlineing visible in the United States starting around 1:30 CDT in South Texas. The eclipse passed over thirteen states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Visit NASA’s website to view the full path of the eclipse and the exact times it was visible in certain U.S. locations.
How did the 2024 solar eclipse look in your city?
Enter your zip code here and you’ll be able to see a recreation of the eclipse from your city! How cool!
What happens if you look at a solar eclipse?
Except for the short period when the moon is onlinepletely blocking the sun, the sun may be visible. This means you will need special glasses to view the eclipse to prevent damage like retinal burns and loss of central vision. It’s important to note that you also cannot look at the eclipse through a camera without using a special lens.
Read on to see where you may be able to snag free glasses, and where to buy the solar eclipse glasses you’ll need to wear to view an event safely.
You may be wondering, “Can I use polarized glasses for a solar eclipse?”
NO! To be safe, we suggest you obtain specialized solar eclipse glasses instead. These glasses are WAY darker than regular sunglasses and they follow the ISO 12312-2 international standard. You can buy these special solar glasses from the American Astronomical Society’s list of approved suppliers.
These ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses are available to buy now:
- Vision Scientific Safe Eclipse Viewer Glasses 1-Pack – $1.84 – available in-store only at Walmart
- Medical King Solar Eclipse Glasses 5-Pack – $7.99 (reg. $8.99)
- American Paper Optics Solar Eclipse Glasses 4-Pack – $4.99
- American Paper Optics Solar Eclipse Glasses 2-Pack w/ 2 Solar SmartPhone Lens Filters – $16.99
- CE and ISO Certified Solar Eclipse Glasses w/ Bonus Smartphone Photo Filter Lens 10-Pack – $14.99
However, there are many places to get solar eclipse glasses for free!
Locations that offered free solar eclipse glasses to watch the recent eclipse:
1. Your local library
Thanks to a tip from a Hip2Save reader, we now know that many libraries carried free solar eclipse glasses!
Last year, the Space Science Institute sent 5 million solar eclipse glasses to 10,000 libraries across the country thanks to its Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) program which is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This program is now closed for the time being, but your library may have benefitted from the program!
To see if your library had them available, call your local branch or visit the SEAL website to see a map of participating libraries.
2. Your nearest Warby Parker store
You may have visited a Warby Parker store to scoop up a FREE pair of ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses. The stores were giving them away starting April 1st for as long as supplies last. You can pick up two pairs of glasses per family. Use their location finder to locate a store near you.
3. Zoos, Gardens, Townships, & Museums
Some local zoos and museums may have given away free glasses:
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, TX
- Witte Museum in San Antonio, TX
- The Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Portage, MI
Other museums hosted events with either paid tickets or a small fee for glasses, such as the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History.
4. Colleges & Educational Institutions
Some local colleges may have hosted free solar eclipse viewing parties that included glasses. The University of Texas at San Antonio is one institution that handed out free solar eclipse glasses to attendees.
5. Astronomy Clubs or Eclipse Ambassadors
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific recruited Eclipse Ambassadors to provide free solar eclipse glasses and other resources to underserved onlinemunities. See their website for a map of Eclipse Ambassadors near you.
Lastly, local planetariums and astronomy clubs may have hosted events or provided free solar eclipse glasses to the public.
6. SolarEclipse.US
Work for a public school? You may have applied at SolarEclipse.US for up to 25 FREE pairs of solar eclipse glasses.
The deadline to apply was March 1, 2024, but keep this organization in mind for future eclipse events!
7. My Eye Dr. Locations
My Eye Dr. near you were giving out FREE Solar Eclipse glasses while supplies lasted.
Other options for viewing the solar eclipse…
Even without a pair of solar eclipse glasses, you didn’t have to miss out on the fun! NASA broadcasted the eclipse on their website or YouTube channel.
You could have also viewed the eclipse indirectly by making a DIY solar viewer. Space.online, NASA, Warby Parker, and Live Science offered tutorials to create one of your own!
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