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Watching an eclipse safely
This page is only quotes. We don't write our own safety advice; here's what NASA and the American Astronomical Society say, word for word, with links.
NASA
“Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer during the partial eclipse phases before and after totality.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the Sun.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Do NOT use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes. Those require different types of solar filters.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
“Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.”
NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
American Astronomical Society
“During a total solar eclipse, looking directly at the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase ("totality"), when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun’s bright face, which happens only within the narrow path of totality and only for a few minutes.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“If you are inside the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Outside the path of totality, and throughout a partial or annular solar eclipse, there is no time when it is safe to look directly at the Sun without using a special-purpose solar filter that conforms to the ISO 12312-2 international standard”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun; they transmit far more sunlight than is safe for our eyes.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Note that this applies only to viewing without optical aid (other than ordinary eyeglasses). Different rules apply when viewing or imaging the Sun through camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes; consult an expert astronomer before using a solar filter with any type of magnifying optics.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
“Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device; note that solar filters must be attached securely to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.”
American Astronomical Society, eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety
Both source pages have more than we quote here. The links are under each quote.