this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2024
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PSA: Eclipse Glasses from Canadian Tire (lemmy.world)
submitted 7 months ago by CeeBee@lemmy.world to c/canada@lemmy.ca
35 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Just a warning to anyone interested in the coming eclipse. Avoid the glasses sold at Canadian Tire. I just bought two pairs of eclipse glasses at Canadian Tire. I decided to test them right after I got outside and immediately noticed an issue. Both glasses have a hazy appearance around the sun.

With proper eclipse glasses the sun should appear crisp and not too bright. You should be able to distinctly see the edge of the sun and even see detail on the surface. There should be no haze of any kind. If you see any kind of haze, immediately take off the glasses and throw them out.

I knew the glasses from Canadian Tire were suspect because they had "NASA APPROVED" on the sides, which is why I bought them. I wanted to test them.

There is no such thing as "NASA APPROVED". NASA doesn't approve or certify anything. If you see that, it's a massive red flag.

One very good trusted source for where to buy eclipse glasses is the American Astronomical Society which has a list of trusted vendors. I myself bought a bulk quantity from solareyewear.ca and have tested the glasses to be working properly.

https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters

Unfortunately, there will be a massive amount of scams going around with eclipse glasses and shady people trying to make a quick buck. Don't risk it and make sure your glasses will protect your eyes.

If someone tries to convince you that their glasses are genuine because they have ISO-12312-2 printed on them, it doesn't matter. I could print that on a pair of toilet paper rolls taped together, but that doesn't mean it'll protect your eyes.

Here are some resources to check out:

https://aas.org/press/american-astronomical-society-warns-counterfeit-fake-eclipse-glasses

https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/solar-eclipse-safety

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[–] FinishingDutch@lemmy.world 52 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

And to emphasize: it really is essential to use the proper glasses for an eclipse like this.

I experienced a total eclipse back in 1999. You’ll be looking at the sun for a few minutes. And even though it might look dark to you, it WILL do permanent damage if you stare at it for that long without the proper protection.

Back in 1999 in the Netherlands, seven people had to be treated for eye injuries because of the eclipse. Two suffered permanent damage, with only about 10 percent sight remaining.

Don’t fuck around. It’s not worth it.

[–] Skanky@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Just to be clear, it's not safe unless it's eclipsed totally. It's not that unsafe while the sun is totally obscured by the moon. Just make sure you're not looking at it before and after its very brief time while in totality

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 7 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

I don't know enough to refute this, but I don't think it's worth the risk even if it was

People won't know when it becomes safe to take off the glasses and when they need to put it on again. It's a fairly brief event

Better to keep the glasses on than risk permanent lifelong damage

[–] Solemn@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Having been to a total eclipse before, it's really extremely obvious when it's time and when it's no longer time. It's very different from partial eclipses. You can easily feel the sudden lack of actual sunlight.

Edit: adding on, I'm pretty sure if you keep the glasses on during the actual eclipse you'll see almost nothing, because the outer fringes of the sun still exposed aren't bright enough to show through those lenses.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

Interesting, I've only ever seen partials. Thanks!

[–] Skanky@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

Like others said, you'll be fine. Also, the eclipse apps out there will tell you when the full eclipse starts and ends... Down to the second.

If you've never seen an eclipse in totality before... Believe me... TOTALLY worth the risk. It's honestly one of the most surreal and breathtaking events you may ever witness. If you've got the chance to see it, you absolutely should.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca -4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Not true at all. There is UV light from the part of the sun that the moon does not block.

[–] CeeBee@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago

During an annular eclipse this is true. But during the totality phase of a total solar eclipse, the entire sun is being blocked (UV doesn't magically travel through the moon).

An annular eclipse is when the moon is the furthest away from Earth. A total eclipse is when the moon is close enough that the angular size of the moon is larger than the sun. So all light is blocked for a couple minutes. The few moments right before and right after totality are the most dangerous because most of the sun is covered and it doesn't hurt the eyes, but can still be damaging.

[–] FunderPants@lemmy.ca 12 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I ordered mine from the Ontario astronomy society (or similar), so I'm confident. My mom called me to help her pick a pair from Amazon. It made me so worried I just sent her two pair from my set of five. It's not worth it to risk your eyes.

[–] SevenOfWine@startrek.website 26 points 7 months ago (3 children)

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 12 points 7 months ago

He's okay, he's doing the safety squint.

[–] FunderPants@lemmy.ca 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

This will never not be funny. Jesus

[–] SevenOfWine@startrek.website 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

[–] FunderPants@lemmy.ca 13 points 7 months ago

The impossible luck on this guy. Trump stares into the sun, his followers go blind.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

Someone found a karma generator!

[–] nik282000@lemmy.ca 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I ordered 2 sets from Amazon in January (because I forgot to order them last year when I bought 6x6" sheets for my cameras/telescope) and they were wildly different.

They both have about the same attenuation but one set has the metalized front surface I was expecting, the other set is just a REALLY strong neutral density filter. I suspect that they both work the same but I'll be sticking to the metalized ones that use the same material as the photography filters.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

There are a number of different types. The two most common ones are the metalized ones, where the sun will appear white, and another kind, where the sun appears yellow. They are both effective protection. The other filters are usually used for solar astronomy equipment, which can also be pretty awesome.

Source: some random person on the internet who was lucky enough to be able to take a trip to see the annular eclipse last year and did a lot of research before buying some equipment.

[–] nik282000@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

Wicked! The black filters are just the right size for my small set of binoculars.

[–] nikita@sh.itjust.works 8 points 7 months ago (3 children)

This eclipse is only hitting eastern Canada correct?

[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Total eclipse in Eastern Canada, Southern Quebec, and a few towns in Ontario such as Toronto.

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

Pretty sure TO is not in the path. Kingston and places around there are though.

[–] LimpRimble@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

only hitting eastern Canada

No. The central part of the shadow is only in the east, but even in BC you'll see a little nibble out of the sun.

[–] yannic@lemmy.ca 7 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

What was the Canadian Tire part number?

Seems like that would be crucial information here. If you don't have it, the Universal Product Code code (UPC code) might do.

[–] CeeBee@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

687-2152-2

pic I took

[–] yannic@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

687? What an unusual department code. I wish I knew how to look those up.

I'm not overly inspired by the search results for UPC: 9584565010

[–] CeeBee@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

I found this "no longer listed" items on eBay

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/156076379394

[–] EvilLootbox@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Damn I was procrastinating and was hoping to go out and find them locally at a Canadian Tire or Home Hardware or something. I ordered a set just now from what appears to be an authorized seller through evilzon so I can test them in time. Thanks for the heads up

[–] CeeBee@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'd watch out for anything safety related on Amazon. They've been found selling fake smoke/CO2/CO alarms, fuses that blow at more than twice their rating, and in 2017 they did a major recall on their solar eclipse glasses.

[–] ThePrivacyPolicy@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago

And unless it's name brand, most things that plug into the wall from amazon lack proper safety certifications too (power bars, extension cables, etc). Many will print the logos on them, but when you look them up they have zero certifications and aren't recognized by those authorities at all.

[–] mudeth@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] EvilLootbox@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I got the Helioclipse who was on the list and the amazon seller was on their list of authorized sellers. I tried them out today and could literally see nothing but the sun, total blackout. think they're good. thanks

[–] mudeth@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Glad I could help!

Edit: I see now that you had already ordered. I was glad to be part of this journey nonetheless.

[–] Piemanding@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Maybe we just learned that OP is just slightly nearsighted and the sun being far away makes it blurry when you see it for the first time. JK this company should get into big trouble for making products like these. Imagine if they damage someone's eyes.