For those who want to know where to buy glasses to view the Aug. 21 solar eclipse, the American Astronomical Society has some words of advice to guard against fake eclipse glasses being sold in numerous places that will not protect the eyes from injury.
At first, AAS said people should look for the ISO 12312-2 label on their glasses, but recent counterfeits have contained that label even though they were not safe, Mashable reported.
To ensure safety, the American Astronomical Society is now recommending people buy their eclipse glasses from one of the vendors on its curated list.
Retail chains listed include 7-Eleven, Best Buy, Kroger, Lowe’s, and Walmart, among others. A long list of online, astronomy, and optics vendors also are listed.
Many online sellers are third-party vendors on Amazon, but higher prices and extended shipping dates, some beyond the Aug. 21 eclipse date, are being reported, according to Business Insider.
Space.com said Friday, Aug. 11 was the last day to order glasses and have them shipped with ground shipping to arrive before the eclipse, although Amazon Prime customers still have time to get them with the free two-day shipping that comes with the membership.
DIY eclipse viewers were discouraged by the AAS because of the safety risks. Glasses that are scratched or more than 3 years old also are not recommended.
Some libraries and elementary schools are giving away approved glasses for free.