SAN ANTONIO â If youâre going to be watching the annular eclipse this month, youâre going to need eclipse glasses.
On Oct. 14, the moon will pass in front of the sun, creating a halo or âring of fireâ in the sky.
The sun is never completely blocked by the Moon during an annular solar eclipse. Therefore it is never safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. Even when 99% of the Sunâs surface is obscured, the remaining sun is still intense enough to cause retinal burn, experts say.
Regular sunglasses wonât work. Youâll need safe solar viewers that are thousands of times darker than sunglasses and they must comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
American Astronomical Society compliant eclipse glasses
Eclipse glasses and hand-held solar viewers should meet all the following criteria:
- Have certification information with a designated ISO 12312-2 international standard
- Have the manufacturerâs name and address printed somewhere on the product
- No scratched or wrinkled lenses
- No homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses â not even very dark ones â because they are not safe for looking directly at the sun
NASAâs partner, the American Astronomical Society, has verified manufacturers that are making eclipse glasses and hand-held solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Several stores are also selling certified solar viewers including Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart. Quicktrip stores in San Antonio are also selling glasses from The American Solar Eclipse Company that are made right here in San Antonio.
You can also buy the glasses online. Here is a list of manufacturers, importers and distributors provided by the AAS:
- American Paper Optics / eclipseglasses.com / 3dglassesonline.com (custom-printed viewers available)
- American Paperwear* (custom-printed viewers available)
- Baader Planetarium* (see note)
- Bookishbunny* (custom-printed and child-size viewers available)
- Celestial Optical / EclipseGuard* (custom-printed viewers available)
- DayStar Filters (custom-printed viewers available)
- Eclipse Texas (custom-printed viewers available)
- Explore Scientific (custom-printed viewers available)
- Flipân Shades (available with visor or cap too)
- Jaxy Optical Instruments* (wholesale only; no retail sales)
- Rainbow Symphony (custom-printed viewers available)
- Seymour Solar (sheets only)
- Solar Eclipse International (SEIC)* (custom-printed viewers available)
- Thousand Oaks Optical (sheets and rolls available too)
- Totality Over TX* (custom-printed viewers available)
*Suppliers marked with an asterisk are either manufacturing or importing from outside the United States.
How to use eclipse glasses and solar viewers
Always inspect your glasses and solar filters before using them. If you find theyâre scratched or damaged, donât use them. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter and remember to always supervise children.
Put the glasses or solar viewer in front of your eyes BEFORE you look up at the sun and donât take them off until youâve looked away.
Also remember NOT to look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device. The concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and injure your eyes.
Where to get FREE eclipse glasses
There are some places in San Antonio offering free eclipse glasses â the public libraries!
The San Antonio Public Library is hosting a series of eclipse-related events. Glasses will be available at no cost for participants in those events on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Event at Mission Branch Library on Monday, October 2, 2023, 6 â 8 p.m.
- Eclipse Movie Series- WALL-E at McCreless Library on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 5:30 â 7:30 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Brook Hollow Library on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 4:30 â 5:30 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Encino on Thursday, October 5, 2023, 4 â 5:30 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Pan Americanâ Come and Go on Friday, October 6, 2023, 4 â 5:30 p.m.
- Galaxy in a Jar at Schaefer Library on Friday, October 6, 2023, 4 â 5 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Potranco on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 11 a.m. â 12 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Cortez on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 3 â 4 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Parman on Sunday, October 8, 2023, 2 â 3 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Bazan on Sunday, October 8, 2023, 4:30 â 5:30 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at McCreless on Monday, October 9, 2023, 5 â 6 p.m.
- Teen Time @ Johnston: Glass Galaxy Jar on Monday, October 9, 2023, 5:30 â 7:30 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Semmes on Monday, October 9, 2023, 5:30 â 6:30 p.m.
- Letâs Create: Creator Club at Parman on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 4 â 5 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Schaefer on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 4 â 5 p.m.
- Eclipse Movie Series- Moonfall at McCreless Library on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 5:30 â 7:30 p.m.
- Eclipse Craft Time at Memorial Library on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 6 â 7 p.m.
- Get Eclipse Ready at Pan Americanâ Come and Go Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 6 â 7:30 p.m.
- Schaefer Adult Craft Program.: Sip and Paint: Solar Eclipse on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 6 â 7:30 p.m.
Find more information about the libraryâs eclipse events online.
When to view the eclipse in San Antonio
The annular solar eclipse will carve a path from Oregon to the Gulf of Mexico. Here in San Antonio, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:23 a.m. and end at 1:33 p.m. The peak of the event â the full annular eclipse will last for a little more than 4 minutes from 11:52 a.m. to 11:56 a.m.
When Octoberâs astronomical event is over, you might want to hang onto your glasses. Parts of San Antonio and the Hill Country are in the path of another solar eclipse in April. That one will be a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024!
The American Astronomical Society says modern eclipse glasses with the ISO 12312-2 designation do not expire as long as they have no punctures, scratches or tears, and the filters/lenses remain attached to the frames.