Fake Solar Eclipse Glasses? - Three Ways To Spot A Potential Problem

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  • Опубліковано 15 тра 2024
  • Summary: Are your solar eclipse glasses safe for seeing sunspots during the day? This video shows three ways to check how effective your solar eclipse glasses are at blocking enough light for safe use. As always, it comes down to making a personal safety decision. I hope this video helps. Have a great eclipse day!
    #sunspots #glasses #solarstorms
    *** NEW: Part 2 - Testing for UV light transmission: • Video
    *** NEW: Part 3 - Use a POOL BALL to see the Sun: • Video
    ISO 12312-2 Standards Description:
    eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/is...
    American Astronomical Society Approved List Of Manufacturers:
    eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/vi...
    Report on solar retinopathy injuries following solar eclipse events:
    eclipse.aas.org/sites/eclipse...
    COMMUNITY GUIDELINE NOTES FOR UA-cam AUTOMATED DETECTION SYSTEM:
    1) This video fully complies with the UA-cam Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
    2) Soundtrack used with permission from my video editing software, Camtasia.
    3) VINE BOOM sound effect used under PAID license from Bluezone Corporation.
    4) SCREAM sound effect used with permission under CC0 license: S38-01 Man eaten by alligator; screams [Wilhelm screams].wav by craigsmith -- freesound.org/s/675810/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
    5) This video contains no paid or donated materials/endorsements.
    6) This video does not contain any controversial subject matter, children, offensive material or bad language.
    FALSE POSITIVE?
    Your camera flash may be brighter than mine, leading to a false positive (i.e. bad glasses)... so here is an alternative test. Go outside on a sunny day, face away from the sun, and look at the horizon (away from the sun) with your glasses. My questionable ones show clouds, houses, trees, the ground, etc. The good pair of glasses shows almost nothing. With good solar eclipse glasses, looking at the Sun should be as comfortable as looking at the Full Moon (according to the AAS).
    ARE YOUR GLASSES NOT ON THE LIST?
    What if your eclipse glasses brand is not on the AAS.org list? Are they fake? Not necessarily. That doesn't completely rule them out. It may mean that they missed the AAS cutoff date last month. However, as the AAS website implies, with two eclipses six months apart, any company that isn't on their approved list by now wasn't trying very hard. As in all of life, there will always be special circumstances.
    Pinned comment:
    "Nicely done! As the ISO Project Leader for the ISO 12312-2 standard, I can say that you have presented the easiest ways for people to check out their solar eclipse glasses/viewers. The reason we have a range of luminous transmittances is to allow for variation in the density of the filter materials when they are manufactured. The upper limit ensures that the filters don't let through too much light, while the lower limit ensures that you can always use the filters to look at the Sun in most viewing conditions except at sunrise or sunset. Thanks for making this video!"
    Summary: In this video, I show you three ways to qualitatively tell if your glasses are safe or not, including the AAS list of approved manufacturers. How to know if your solar eclipse glasses are likely safe.
  • Розваги

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,2 тис.

  • @bralphchou9624
    @bralphchou9624 Місяць тому +2367

    Nicely done! As the ISO Project Leader for the ISO 12312-2 standard, I can say that you have presented the easiest ways for people to check out their solar eclipse glasses/viewers. The reason we have a range of luminous transmittances is to allow for variation in the density of the filter materials when they are manufactured. The upper limit ensures that the filters don't let through too much light, while the lower limit ensures that you can always use the filters to look at the Sun in most viewing conditions except at sunrise or sunset. Thanks for making this video!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +240

      Thank you for this comment. After I realized that mine were questionable, I began a deep dive into the subject and discovered that there were still some dubious companies involved in eclipse viewers. I hope that number is quite small this time around.

    • @NoBreadsticks
      @NoBreadsticks Місяць тому +88

      Wow, straight from the source!

    • @JoeIsOut2lunch
      @JoeIsOut2lunch Місяць тому +80

      I wish this were a trend. Experts speaking up and supporting videos giving them credibility…or the opposite in some cases (not this one). Bravo sir.

    • @insider235
      @insider235 Місяць тому +28

      Why can’t you use them for sunset or sunrise?

    • @AllAmericanGuyExpert
      @AllAmericanGuyExpert Місяць тому +22

      I checked all of my 2017 glasses before I hand them out to my kids again. Every one of them were in-spec. I also got mine before the big 2017 brouhaha when every Amazon and eBay seller got shut down for no good reason. They went berserk over the handful of fakes out there. All it did was 1) Made online orders impossible to obtain close to the eclipse. 2) it made people scared to use their legit ones. and 3) at the end of the day, fake ones are still apparently available online, over 6 years later!

  • @johnrogers8763
    @johnrogers8763 Місяць тому +2790

    It's scary that there are companies out there that are willing to sell what they KNOW will cause eye injury or blindness just to make a few bucks.

    • @benjaminandrews1870
      @benjaminandrews1870 Місяць тому +72

      It's scary but when I was in school we put microscope slides above a candle to get darkened by the carbon deposits and used the glass slides to view it. 😅 glass, candles, wow time has changed in the last 30 years

    • @alquinn8576
      @alquinn8576 Місяць тому

      that's China for you. same people who put melamine into baby formula

    • @pendlera2959
      @pendlera2959 Місяць тому +62

      Modern economic philosophy teaches businesses that their only duty is to owners and shareholders, not to their emplyees, customers, or society. We literally allow business classes to teach this. It's absurd to expect them to care about safety before profit when they've been taught otherwise.

    • @protorhinocerator142
      @protorhinocerator142 Місяць тому

      Made in China.
      They have no regard for customer safety.
      Also children's jewelry with lead in it.
      Way to go, China.

    • @98f5
      @98f5 Місяць тому +11

      They dont know because they didnt check. You dont get how scummy people are on this earth.

  • @timl.b.2095
    @timl.b.2095 Місяць тому +2062

    Might have been a good idea to remind people to check for scratches or flaws in their old pair of eclipse glasses, as those can be dangerous too.

    • @reedr7142
      @reedr7142 Місяць тому +10

      That’s what I thought his third tip was going to be. Good video, nonetheless.

    • @mantha6912
      @mantha6912 Місяць тому +22

      I was told by my teacher that solar eclipse glasses "expire" after about a year, is there any truth to this?

    • @Sekir80
      @Sekir80 Місяць тому +9

      @@reflactor This was a great starter, but you should address a much bigger problem: UV. It doesn't really matter what the visible light transmittance is (people have different tastes), but UV makes your eye hurt as you mentioned at the end of this video. Unfortunately, I don't have an idea how to test these glasses against UV, but again, it is WAAY more important, that makes it quite a hassle.

    • @SatanRomps
      @SatanRomps Місяць тому +22

      In the old days, yes but now we have technology that fixes that issue.
      "Eclipse glasses that meet the ISO certification standard and were made after 2015 do not expire."
      ​@mantha6912

    • @Timoco
      @Timoco Місяць тому +25

      @@mantha6912 Yes. Many glasses have a 3 year expiration life span. The glasses from the 2017 eclipse should not be used for the upcoming 2024 eclipse. The glasses will often have the expiration written on the inside.

  • @oil_painted_dessert
    @oil_painted_dessert Місяць тому +306

    Just double-checked all our glasses - found out that one of the 2 brands we were using was a scam. THANK you for saving the eyeballs of someone in our group

    • @MouMouPatt
      @MouMouPatt Місяць тому +9

      glad you and your family/friends were saved!

  • @QuestForTheS
    @QuestForTheS Місяць тому +567

    I like how an odd number of eyes had been saved.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +308

      One commenter said they only had one eye, so I wanted to accommodate the count for them. :)

    • @TheLordOfNothing
      @TheLordOfNothing Місяць тому +7

      @@reflactor One eye or one functioning eye? Didn't think it was possible to live with one eye, usually babies who are born with only one eye die after birth.

    • @danielthecake8617
      @danielthecake8617 Місяць тому +48

      >surgically removed eye

    • @pbandmayosandwich3208
      @pbandmayosandwich3208 Місяць тому +82

      @@TheLordOfNothingyou can 100% live without an eye.

    • @TheLordOfNothing
      @TheLordOfNothing Місяць тому +20

      @@pbandmayosandwich3208 You can live with one eye and a normally shaped skull...most babies die if you have an abnormally shaped skull with one eye in the center.

  • @battery_wattage
    @battery_wattage Місяць тому +616

    My local library hands out real eclipse glasses to the first 5000 who attend their eclipse safety talk. There’s that. 🙂

    • @TheLordOfNothing
      @TheLordOfNothing Місяць тому +9

      Where do you live where there's more than 5000 patrons at your local library?

    • @battery_wattage
      @battery_wattage Місяць тому +29

      @@TheLordOfNothing my town has a population of about 300k and it’s near a college. It’s also about 50 miles away from totality. They don’t hand them out all at once. It’s done twice a day for two days and once the last day.

    • @bazarleam2593
      @bazarleam2593 Місяць тому

      5000 huh? Doubtful.

    • @bazarleam2593
      @bazarleam2593 Місяць тому +1

      ​@@TheLordOfNothingthe cost... say they were low at 2 dollars each. Cost that library 10 grand? Come on.. Smh

    • @battery_wattage
      @battery_wattage Місяць тому

      @@bazarleam2593 it’s not a small town and college. There are millions donated to the college each year and both the college and library work closely together.

  • @l.riggins1857
    @l.riggins1857 Місяць тому +1170

    You need to have a minimum transmittance specification so that you can see the sun through it. If the minimum were zero, you couldn't see anything. Putting a brick in front of your eyes would satisfy the requirement, protect your eyes, but wouldn't give any solar visual experience. Thanks for your informative video. It's needed and appreciated.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +214

      Thank you for your comment. That makes perfect sense.

    • @jpolowin0
      @jpolowin0 Місяць тому +273

      "Our bricks are ISO 12312-2 compliant!"

    • @l.riggins1857
      @l.riggins1857 Місяць тому +20

      @@jpolowin0 😂

    • @JxH
      @JxH Місяць тому +35

      100% Cardboard would be cheaper than a brick. More comfortable to wear too.

    • @GTaichou
      @GTaichou Місяць тому +9

      Of course... this makes complete sense, thank you! Makes me feel like I need to go back to Logic 101 LOL 😂

  • @selalewow
    @selalewow Місяць тому +220

    As someone who looked directly at an eclipse in the 90's I can confirm the importance of this. I thought "less light so less damage", right? Nope. The light around the corona is less, so your irises don’t dilate enough and the full UV rays get through.
    I still have the small dot in the center of my vision but i have pretty much my full sight back. I was lucky.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +37

      Thank you for sharing this experience.

    • @Perennial1997
      @Perennial1997 Місяць тому +7

      Did it hurt at the time?

    • @selalewow
      @selalewow Місяць тому +35

      @@Perennial1997 There was no pain at all. That's one of the dangers because pain alerts you to something being wrong. I had a white spot in the middle of my vision, like when you look at a bright light, but it did not go away. I made an emergency appointment with my eye doctor when I woke up the next day and it was still there.

    • @intherockies
      @intherockies Місяць тому +8

      ​@@Perennial1997 it burns your eye like a sunburn and permanently damages your vision.

    • @victorsanchez4497
      @victorsanchez4497 Місяць тому +2

      Can you describe what it looked like? I'm very curious to see what it looks like from a person that saw it natural. Thank you!

  • @jeanneobbard
    @jeanneobbard Місяць тому +185

    The algorithm did me a solid today... Just went and double-checked that my glasses came from a safe brand. Thank you for this! 👍

    • @someguy1ification
      @someguy1ification Місяць тому +3

      I checked mine against the aas list as well. They were indeed on it.

    • @adolescentbird
      @adolescentbird Місяць тому

      The algorithm has decided to show me this the day after the eclipse

  • @XWierdThingsHappenX
    @XWierdThingsHappenX Місяць тому +206

    I had no idea the glasses I got from Amazon may have not been safe! Thanks for this I was able to confirm my glasses are indeed safe for eclipse viewing.

    • @cookiesandpudding8485
      @cookiesandpudding8485 Місяць тому +12

      Which ones did you get?

    • @RickR69
      @RickR69 Місяць тому

      Amazon doesn't verify most postings and you shouldn't trust anything the seller writes on the product description. There is a TON of blatant fraud on Amazon and there has been for years and nothing has been done about it.

    • @graysontucker3239
      @graysontucker3239 Місяць тому +18

      Amazon just sent me an email saying the once I bought were not on the list of approved manufacturers and are refunding me the money I spent. So hopefully this can help other who bought the same ones I did.

    • @n.crider3798
      @n.crider3798 Місяць тому +5

      Wait, you mean the glasses from INOOSEEE brand are not any good? Amazon is worse than the dollar store

    • @RickR69
      @RickR69 Місяць тому

      @@n.crider3798 there's so much fraud on Amazon.

  • @sylviabennan
    @sylviabennan Місяць тому +87

    dude you rock, you are likely saving a lot of people from getting eye damage

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  22 дні тому +1

      Thank you for the kind words. Frankly, I'm bewildered at how popular this video got.

  • @privatepilot4064
    @privatepilot4064 Місяць тому +144

    You can use a colander to view the eclipse. And it does work. You can view the eclipse on a piece of paper placed beneath it. However, never sing into a colander because you can strain your voice.

    • @wta1518
      @wta1518 Місяць тому +82

      ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ *DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE COLANDER* ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
      You hold the colander up to the sun, and look at it's shadow.

    • @katie7748
      @katie7748 Місяць тому +9

      LOL I love dad jokes!!

    • @nicoles_soul5477
      @nicoles_soul5477 Місяць тому +25

      @@wta1518Yes I love you are warning people because I’m sure some people would’ve misunderstood and this is eye saving! I appreciate you

    • @AmeliaEarhart537
      @AmeliaEarhart537 Місяць тому +4

      I love the joke 😂😂😂

    • @privatepilot4064
      @privatepilot4064 Місяць тому +4

      @@AmeliaEarhart537 😀

  • @mantha6912
    @mantha6912 Місяць тому +208

    That was a very clever "hit the like button" segment- I gave the video a like for that and the good info!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +9

      Much appreciated!

    • @KingCookieCat
      @KingCookieCat Місяць тому +2

      I did the exact same lol

    • @ruidadgmailcanada8508
      @ruidadgmailcanada8508 Місяць тому +2

      @@reflactorI subbed for the comedy…and the learning.

    • @mrjr03
      @mrjr03 Місяць тому +4

      I thought it was very cute lol

  • @allenwurl6245
    @allenwurl6245 Місяць тому +56

    Thank you, for caring more about our eyes than the people trying to steal $10 (and potentially our vision) 👍❤👍

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +7

      Happy to help. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable eclipse day!

  • @ColumineMiette
    @ColumineMiette Місяць тому +18

    Commenting so more people can see this. This is really important. You don't get another pair of eyes!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      Very true. Have a safe eclipse day!

  • @jayjackson5705
    @jayjackson5705 Місяць тому +22

    I just did the test at 4:30 and they failed. You saved me my eyesight. Thank you. Buying US made ones from the AAS website list. I was very skeptical when they arrived to me and the amazon link has been removed (of course no warning from Amazon to the customers who bought them)

  • @djksfhakhaks
    @djksfhakhaks Місяць тому +136

    We just bought a box of 20. Ima check them before we travel. Thanks for the heads up!!!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +29

      Have a safe eclipse day!

    • @jenniferelkins
      @jenniferelkins Місяць тому +3

      Us too!

    • @djksfhakhaks
      @djksfhakhaks Місяць тому +14

      @@jenniferelkins If it hadn't been for this video I likely would have put many eyes in jeopardy! I already can't see well at night but I wouldn't forgive myself if my children got hurt.

    • @djksfhakhaks
      @djksfhakhaks Місяць тому +7

      @@reflactor so, I'm kinda confused. My wife and I disagree about the percentage. When I shine my phone flashlight through them, I can see it. Are they just on the lower side of the allowable range?

    • @mynameisworld
      @mynameisworld Місяць тому +4

      Who is Ima?

  • @kamilmoucka6811
    @kamilmoucka6811 Місяць тому +107

    During the last total solar eclipse in Europe in August 1999 I had to drive 50km south to Austria. Back then I had to make do with two computer floppy disks as a solar filter (I still have it somewhere) and its transmittance was comparable to those certified glasses. Otherwise, I wish all of you in America to enjoy the eclipse and most importantly, may the weather be good.😀

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +25

      That sounds like quite a memorable adventure. Hoping for good weather here.

    • @californigirl
      @californigirl Місяць тому +12

      ​@@reflactor HAH I see what you did there.

    • @protorhinocerator142
      @protorhinocerator142 Місяць тому +2

      I'm planning on a road trip for the eclipse. Here's hoping for good weather.

    • @brodriguez11000
      @brodriguez11000 Місяць тому +1

      Welding glasses.

    • @zerospace101
      @zerospace101 Місяць тому +1

      That was a brilliant solution

  • @dorothythorpe6183
    @dorothythorpe6183 Місяць тому +29

    Thank you to ISO and AAS and Reflactor for keeping us safe. I used the list and my family has their safe eclipse viewers. I just love science-folks!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      ISO and AAS did all the hard work. I just talk and bounce around like a monkey.

  • @barmalini
    @barmalini Місяць тому +67

    The minimum transmittance requirement has to do with the eye's accommodation mechanism.
    If light levels are too low, the eye will adapt to darkness and become vulnerable again, particularly to any stray UV rays.

    • @robertjenkins6132
      @robertjenkins6132 Місяць тому +12

      I thought it was so that you could actually see something. I mean, you could stand behind a large tree and use the trunk of the large tree as eclipse glasses, but then you wouldn't be able to see anything....

  • @zalphinian
    @zalphinian Місяць тому +59

    Excellent video! I purchased mine online and ensured the seller/brand name was on the list before making my purchase. Hearing about all the problems with the last eclipse, I didn't want to waste money on fraud for this one and knew that anyone could CLAIM compliance without actually meeting it.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +4

      Thanks for watching - I'm glad it was helpful. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @JxH
      @JxH Місяць тому +6

      If they can fake the ISO information printing, then they can look-up and fake the brand names too. It's just ink.
      The concept of testing presently in this video is good. I did exactly that, but then carefully working up to viewing the noon Sun. Glasses seem perfectly fine; two batches. I saw sunspots and the granularity of the Sun's surface. Eyes are fine.

  • @chillmurray7529
    @chillmurray7529 Місяць тому +52

    I bought and used eclipse glasses in 2018 and sometimes, under certain conditions, I can still see the eclipse with my eyes closed.
    It has to be very very dark( like a moonless night) and my eyes have to have been closed for a long time. It only ever happens when I’ve gotten up at night to use the bathroom without turning on any lights. When I lay back down I can see what I call “caviar lights”. Hundreds of little tiny semi circles of light in a sort of a cluster. Other than that my eyes seem perfectly fine.

    • @colt5189
      @colt5189 Місяць тому +2

      Were your glasses legit, or possibly fake?

    • @chillmurray7529
      @chillmurray7529 Місяць тому +5

      @@colt5189 fair question; they seemed legit. They had a mirror like outside and you couldn’t see anything else through them. But who knows? I still have them somewhere

    • @thoryan3057
      @thoryan3057 Місяць тому

      @@chillmurray7529 Even on legit pairs there are still safety guidelines written on them warning not to use for more than 3 minutes of continuous use and to only look up to a few hours intermittently. You're not supposed to look nonstop.

    • @user-fr7uz7ixxx
      @user-fr7uz7ixxx Місяць тому +6

      Yeah, I had a pair I bought from Amazon that met the AAS list and ISO things talked about in the video, but i only looked for a couple seconds at the eclipse and had that afterimage for a while after.

    • @hoosierpioneer
      @hoosierpioneer Місяць тому +9

      ​@user-fr7uz7ismj I get those afterimages from all kinds of ordinary light. Sometimes the image is reversed. I wasn't sure if it was my brain playing games with me.

  • @TreadTheDonutDuck
    @TreadTheDonutDuck Місяць тому +71

    This has little to do with any of the actual information you gave (which was extremely helpful), but MAN I love your physicality! I quite enjoy public speaking and the way you move your hands and sink down for emphasis is oddly mesmerizing.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +13

      Thanks! It's partially due to my poor editing skills too. I haven't learned how to use subtlety when clipping segments together. It's a learning experience. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @michaelboldyga6239
      @michaelboldyga6239 Місяць тому +4

      It's distracting .

  • @applebottomjeans7
    @applebottomjeans7 Місяць тому +4

    Wish I had seen this earlier. My eyes hurt after the eclipse and we just found out that our glasses are not safe.😣

  • @metal4brkfst
    @metal4brkfst Місяць тому +35

    Thanks for this video. My daughter bought a bunch of eclipse glasses, so the first thing I did after watching was go check that they meet iso 12312-2. Thank You!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +8

      Thank you for checking! I think most people will find that theirs are safe. I was quite shocked that the pair I bought was so bad.

    • @TheStevecas9860
      @TheStevecas9860 Місяць тому +5

      Well done protect your family's eyes and anyone else!

  • @tluvloco
    @tluvloco Місяць тому +24

    Thank you for this! I didn’t even consider that some eclipse glasses may be so subpar that they could do damage.

  • @donnawalker3910
    @donnawalker3910 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for a very helpful heads up! I purchased some glasses for eclipse viewing a couple of weeks back and after watching this video I immediately checked them to make sure they were printed with the ISO compliance code and message. YEP!

  • @puppet9662
    @puppet9662 Місяць тому +1

    This is a really well explained and concise video, thank you! I checked the glasses my parents ordered and they are indeed ISO approved and on the AAS list. I’ll do the lightbulb test when we open the packaging, but it’s already reassuring.

  • @2112user
    @2112user Місяць тому +142

    I've seen China fake the "Made in the USA" tag and UL approved tag, I have little doubt they would not hesitate to do the same with the ISO to make a sale.

    • @vicz8899
      @vicz8899 Місяць тому +25

      They do. Long time ago I bought a cheap pair of "100% UV protection" sun glasses that ended up frying my eyes.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +14

      Oh no!

    • @spambot7110
      @spambot7110 Місяць тому +8

      you're saying the whole country of china got together and did this? very strange. you are aware china is like, a place, with different people and organizations and stuff in it right?

    • @freevipservers
      @freevipservers Місяць тому +46

      @@spambot7110 When you name something like that, you are indirectly stating the country is commonly scamming. He is talking about the manufacturers, not the innocent people.

    • @john_in_phoenix
      @john_in_phoenix Місяць тому +38

      ​​@@spambot7110 Most important in this case is that China is a place where infant formula was poisoned to make a buck. Laws, regulations and enforcement in China is close to nonexistent, despite it being a large country with a huge population. Corruption is rampant.

  • @jmurphy6767
    @jmurphy6767 Місяць тому +38

    This was very helpful. Thank you.
    AAS’s unalphabetized lists were not as helpful as they could be.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +37

      Apparently they do that so that they don't favor any single company. I think they re-arrange it every week.

    • @Scott-ew7nr
      @Scott-ew7nr Місяць тому

      I used Ctrl + F to find the company I bought from.

    • @Sekir80
      @Sekir80 Місяць тому +5

      @@reflactorWow, what an interesting tidbit!

    • @ratamacue0320
      @ratamacue0320 Місяць тому +20

      If you're looking for a particular name on the list, use the find function in your browser.

    • @dancooper6002
      @dancooper6002 Місяць тому +14

      Ever heard of Ctrl+F?

  • @bmoney_with_da_wings
    @bmoney_with_da_wings Місяць тому +2

    Thank you very much for taking the time to educate us. You are helping hundreds.

  • @April-lp7pp
    @April-lp7pp Місяць тому +1

    Thank you so much for this. I hope everyone sees it.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @donwilliams6783
    @donwilliams6783 Місяць тому +22

    We appreciate your concern. Your channel is not only fun and interesting. You have provided a public service. Enjoy the Eclipse! 😊

  • @diyamerican
    @diyamerican Місяць тому +8

    Thank you! You have saved many eyes 👀

  • @exchangestudent2
    @exchangestudent2 Місяць тому +1

    Thank you for this info. I bought glasses today after looking them up.

  • @Pittato
    @Pittato Місяць тому +1

    Thank you. I wanted to get my family some glasses that were safe and the list made it a much more confident purchase.

  • @auntlynnie
    @auntlynnie Місяць тому +8

    Thank you so much! I was nervous about the glasses I bought, but they’re listed with AAS and meet the ISO standard. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Have a great eclipse day. :)

    • @auntlynnie
      @auntlynnie Місяць тому

      @@reflactorYou, too! I already shared your post to Facebook. As I live very near the path of totality, lots of my friends and family will be watching. ❤

  • @artyombeilis9075
    @artyombeilis9075 Місяць тому +5

    Very good job, informative and referring to standard!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +3

      Thanks! I knew I had to be relatively thorough on this video because of the implications. I want to prevent people from damaging their eyes.

  • @ihugcats4624
    @ihugcats4624 Місяць тому +2

    Shared everywhere! Glad there's simple ways to test and prevent permanent damage.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thanks for watching... and sharing! Have a great eclipse day.

  • @stevenp748
    @stevenp748 Місяць тому +4

    This was really helpful, and I enjoyed the presentation style. Thanks for putting this together.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Glad it was helpful!

  • @bortiz805
    @bortiz805 Місяць тому +3

    Thank you kindly. I appreciate this so much!

  • @AllensStories
    @AllensStories Місяць тому +2

    Thanks for this information and uploading the video.I also hopes it helps others as it has helped me.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you for the kind words. Have a great eclipse day.

  • @ivangottapseudonym8849
    @ivangottapseudonym8849 Місяць тому +1

    Thank you so much for making this video.
    I shared it with many reluctant solar observers here in North East Ohio.
    Once they tested their solar observation glasses, they were much emboldened to observe the glorious partial phases of the Eclipse.

  • @KatieDarden
    @KatieDarden Місяць тому +12

    Thank you - I was fascinated (and glad) that I was unable to see anything through the lenses of the glasses I bought online.I did your tests. My glasses see a little more than yours, but not nearly what the "bad" ones do. I also looked them up, and the manufacturer is on the list. Thanks for helping me verify.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +3

      We've tested a lot of them this week and there is a slight variability. However, none of them are as bad as the ones I bought online. If I go outside with those and look at the horizon, I can see clouds, cars, houses, trees, etc.

    • @aliensinnoh1
      @aliensinnoh1 Місяць тому

      Same. I got mine from American Paper Optics, which is on the list. When I look at an LED bulb, I see the entire bulb.

  • @_creepykitty_
    @_creepykitty_ Місяць тому +3

    Thank you for making this video! I'm in Austin ready and waiting for the eclipse with my glasses!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Happy to help. We're up in DFW, eagerly awaiting our 30 seconds of totality.

  • @shirleypatten6212
    @shirleypatten6212 Місяць тому +2

    Thank you for sharing the approved list. Important information.

  • @orchidwevers3298
    @orchidwevers3298 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for the info! Appreciate it!

  • @AidanS99
    @AidanS99 Місяць тому +5

    GREAT VIDEO!!! I almost bought a pair of faulty solar eclipse glasses. You really saved my behind! Thanks!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Have a great eclipse day!

  • @justinbaker2883
    @justinbaker2883 Місяць тому +19

    This was too good. That like button bit was amazing

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +3

      Thank you for watching. Hope it was helpful.

  • @Ventixdandelionwine
    @Ventixdandelionwine Місяць тому +2

    I told my mom about the eclipse and she’s buying glasses for the whole family so I think we will go and see it! Thanks for this video you helped a lot of people not get blind or damage their eyes.

  • @blueblockybirdd
    @blueblockybirdd Місяць тому +1

    Put this on my watch later!! I'm receiving solar eclipse glasses soon. I'll watch this again to test them!

  • @StarPrincessTally
    @StarPrincessTally Місяць тому +9

    So helpful! I got a brand off the approved AAS list but my glasses didn't hold up to these tests so I just ordered a 2nd set to be safe. Without proper tests I can't be sure but I don't want to risk it

  • @TonyTheYouTuba
    @TonyTheYouTuba Місяць тому +3

    Thank you for your top work here, and I hope the clouds part for you and the channel keeps growing!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you. This video has gone into orbit compared to my other telescope restoration videos.

  • @tquist61
    @tquist61 Місяць тому +2

    Thanks for putting out this informative video. I had already purchased protective glasses for my family, but in the back of my mind I was hoping I made a good choice. Thankfully, our glasses past all three tests and the manufacturer was on the approved list, so we're all set to go! Now, hoping for clear skies...

  • @redbarond1
    @redbarond1 Місяць тому

    Great video, super well written, and I appreciated that you have sources listed for everything you said! I checked to make sure that the glasses I bought were approved!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @Tom-cf2wk
    @Tom-cf2wk Місяць тому +3

    Thank you very much for making this video. My MRS bought some from Amazon and I knew I had to find time to research if they were legit. You saved me some time. Much appreciated!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @MrKasenom
    @MrKasenom Місяць тому +5

    thank you for making this video! I unfortunately got counterfeit glasses from amazon, so I'm buying one from a vendor on the AAS list

  • @kerryconlan9870
    @kerryconlan9870 Місяць тому

    Thank you for this video. I am going to check them against everything you've shown! Enjoy the eclipse!

  • @jamesbrown4092
    @jamesbrown4092 Місяць тому

    Thank you for the link to the list of approved manufacturers. I was relieved to find the company I bought mine from included in that list.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      That's good news. As a double check, be sure to do the indoor lightbulbs test. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @jamesbrown4092
      @jamesbrown4092 Місяць тому

      Thank you. Tested and passed.

  • @aSipOfHemlocktea
    @aSipOfHemlocktea Місяць тому +87

    Fun fact I can't look directly at the sun without sneezing

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +30

      Same! Walking out of a movie theater causes a series of sneezes. It's somewhat common and has been known about since the time of the Greeks. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @reaper5242
      @reaper5242 Місяць тому +27

      It's called Autosomal-dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (achoo) also known as photic sneeze reflex or sun sneezing. Some people have a similar thing when experiencing love or arousal, as well as many other strange triggers.

    • @dsmith9626
      @dsmith9626 Місяць тому +3

      Same. A majority of humans can't look at the sun without sneezing.

    • @gameratortylerstein5636
      @gameratortylerstein5636 Місяць тому

      Me too

    • @WednesdaysDragon
      @WednesdaysDragon Місяць тому +1

      ​@reaper5242 A lot of people chatter, very few it seems can inform! Thanks! 🙂

  • @safewayman
    @safewayman Місяць тому +3

    Only 25 seconds in and already just want to say, how lovely and beautiful of you to make a video like this! Always good to spread good word to keep us fellow humans safe, appreciate you good sir and may God Bless you! Much love!❤️❤️❤️

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @wtmf80
    @wtmf80 Місяць тому +1

    Great timing for this video, thanks! I was just looking on Amazon for a new pair.

  • @lindadunlap2927
    @lindadunlap2927 Місяць тому +2

    My recommendation would be to NOT stare at the eclipse for long periods of time regardless of your glasses. I plan to just occasionally glance at it.

  • @sleepdeep305
    @sleepdeep305 Місяць тому +6

    You are a true saint. I’ve been skeptical of purchasing a pair of glasses and have been putting it off…now I can truly prepare for the eclipse.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Kind words, but I'm just happy to help. Thank you for watching and have a great eclipse day.

  • @nicsxnin6786
    @nicsxnin6786 Місяць тому +4

    Thx for the video. Good advice for everyone to be careful with these glasses!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      Happy to help. I wish this video wasn't needed - I prefer to make fun telescope videos. In the grand scheme of things, my channel is way to small to make much of a dent, but hopefully it saves some people from hurting their eyes.

  • @JamesMcCain-ih1vb
    @JamesMcCain-ih1vb Місяць тому +2

    Thank you for letting me check my glasses. ❤

  • @arualstarr
    @arualstarr Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for the good information! I checked to see if mine were on the AASA manufacturer list that you linked.

  • @antonnym214
    @antonnym214 Місяць тому +13

    This is very good and absolutely essential information. Thank you and Bless you! I have a friend in Australia (Hi Jackie!) who was blinded in one eye by a solar eclipse. Not by substandard glasses. It was an inadvertent glance as a child, but it serves to highlight the importance of protecting one's eyes during an eclipse.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      I'm sorry to hear about your friends injury. I hope you have an excellent eclipse day.

    • @hamsterama
      @hamsterama Місяць тому

      That's scary! I'm in central Ohio, and I'll be right in the path of the solar eclipse. I plan to have my windows open to see the darkness outside, but I'll be watching it on TV. I'm not willing let a couple thin pieces of plastic glued to cardboard stand between myself and my eyesight. I would be paranoid of the glasses slipping off my face at exactly the wrong moment, or something. By the way, in the early 90's, we had a partial solar eclipse, which took place during school recess time. We were kept inside for recess, because of the danger. We weren't allowed to used glasses or anything like that.

    • @mangeload
      @mangeload Місяць тому

      I remember that. We didn't have eclipse glasses back then. Everyone was instructed to make analog cardboard shadow viewers in the morning before we went outside, but there always was one jackass that had to look at the sun raw dawg. That jackass was me, and 30-plus years later, I still have better than 20/20 vision. I have been naked sungazing, wearing nothing but a condom for years. Just make sure to open a fresh magnum, it's the only way. Your eyes will get stronger with practice, just make sure to only gaze in the early morning or at dusk, and you'll be fine. I can never wear sunglasses. I don't like things hanging from my face. I don't even wear eye protection when I'm operating my chainsaw & leaf blower, I would rather have unobstructed view than have an accident happen because I didn't see something.

    • @mangeload
      @mangeload Місяць тому

      I do tree service, Clevelander born & raised. Ahhh, the 90s, the good old days when people actually did stuff 😮

  • @SlyPearTree
    @SlyPearTree Місяць тому +4

    Thanks for making this.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day.

  • @TC-bj8pu
    @TC-bj8pu Місяць тому

    Very good video! I’m sure you saved someone’s sight. Gonna check my glasses that I purchased for my family. Thank you!

  • @halliebairey9678
    @halliebairey9678 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for the info! I just checked to make sure the store I work at is selling an approved brand of solar eclipse glasses, which it is fortunately!

  • @konetashelton4130
    @konetashelton4130 Місяць тому +7

    Whewwww, I checked out my Eclipse glasses.....and I'm good to go. Thank you for your video.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Happy to help. Have a happy eclipse day!

  • @metarus208
    @metarus208 Місяць тому +3

    Thanks for saving people!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      WOW! Thank you for your kind generosity. I'm just trying to help out the community as best I can. My tiny channel has almost no chance to impact the world, but for some reason this video caught somebody's attention and it took off. I still don't understand it.

  • @naomisalsera826
    @naomisalsera826 Місяць тому

    Thank you so much for this very valuable information!!! I've shared this with my various hiking groups, many of whom will be out on the trail to view the eclipse on April 8

  • @heatherfeathers7789
    @heatherfeathers7789 Місяць тому +2

    I’ll never forget walking home from school and seeing a guy in a welding mask watching the eclipse. (At school they just about screamed at us to keep our heads down.) He offered to let us take turns looking through his welding mask. There were 3 of us and of course we were excited. So, if you can’t get safe glasses, a welding mask is fine! lol

    • @joanbaczek2575
      @joanbaczek2575 Місяць тому

      The welding mask is not fine still let’s rays pass that can burn your eyes, scary thing is you will get damage and not even feel it

  • @weareprobablyinanarguement
    @weareprobablyinanarguement Місяць тому +3

    You probably saved so many people! Thanks to you, I confirmed that my glasses were safe (I have Soluna glasses, by the way).

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      We also have Soluna brand too in addition to Rainbow Symphony. Both are excellent. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @weareprobablyinanarguement
      @weareprobablyinanarguement Місяць тому

      @@reflactor Thanks

  • @TheStevecas9860
    @TheStevecas9860 Місяць тому +4

    @Reflactor John This is the most important video you have done! To Protect people's eyes! I have been Harping on for many years about so-called sun filters on eyepieces and proper Solar filters to help people get the right ISO filters to protect their eyes! Well done John this video shows exactly what people need! Folks share like the video and get it out to as many groups people you can think of, it could save someone's eye from Damage or Blindness!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thanks Steve. Hopefully this helps some people avoid injuring their eyes.

  • @kbellijelli
    @kbellijelli Місяць тому +1

    Thank you! I checked and the glasses I bought were fakes!! Lied about ISO and everything 😭 thankful that you posted this! I thought they were blocking enough light but it was definitely not when I saw your examples. Got new ones off the AAS list!

  • @ununhexium
    @ununhexium Місяць тому +1

    Thank you, I learned through the AAS website that my glasses were counterfeit

  • @NC8ED
    @NC8ED Місяць тому +18

    FYI A filament is a conducting WIRE with a high MELTING point, forming part of an electric bulb or VACUUM tube and heated or made INCANDESCENT by an electric current. Light-Emitting Diodes are heavily doped p-n junctions. They can be made to resemble filaments.

    • @pancake2700
      @pancake2700 Місяць тому +1

      I was wondering this as he kept talking about filaments. I don’t totally understand all the science behind it but I was the weird child that liked big/unusual words and when I learned what a filament was I just HAD to point them out to everyone all the time cuz I thought the word was so fun. I didn’t think LEDs had them and was confused by that so thank you for this comment

  • @jimselzle3782
    @jimselzle3782 Місяць тому +5

    Very glad I saw this video. I have 2 brands of glasses - one that is on the AAS website, one that is not. The one on the AAS website tested much better using the tests you have in this video. I'll be trashing the other brand (the one not on the AAS website). Both by the way indicated they met the ISO 12312-2 standards.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thank you for trashing the bad ones - that'll save somebody some potential trouble.

  • @MixingMagic09
    @MixingMagic09 Місяць тому +1

    THANK YOU SO MUCH. I was really nervous when I heard about fake eclipse glasses and this was helpful. I just checked and my glasses are safe!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great day tomorrow!

    • @jacksonsteward4642
      @jacksonsteward4642 Місяць тому

      Mine too

    • @chloesimone8885
      @chloesimone8885 Місяць тому

      They are all the same the sun doesn’t harm your eyes sun glasses will let u see it if it’s to bright to look directly during times the suns at it’s strongest between 12-3 before or after than is ideal to start sun gazing & improve your eyes & health I can look at the sun any time my eyesight is perfect

  • @darthroach9057
    @darthroach9057 Місяць тому

    After looking at everything, I found that Lowes sells glasses on the approved list.
    Thanks for the information!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Glad I could help!

  • @AlextheguitarFreak
    @AlextheguitarFreak Місяць тому +3

    Thank you very much for making this video, I have been looking for a video like this for a while now.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Have a safe enjoyable eclipse day!

  • @tgardenchicken1780
    @tgardenchicken1780 Місяць тому +3

    Thanks for the info, I checked my glasses, they are okay, whew. (I bought extras and had planned to share.)

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thank you for wattching. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @definetlystephanie
    @definetlystephanie Місяць тому +1

    Thank you so much for the links, especially! This is super helpful, and I feel so much more confident in my purchase :))

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Glad it was helpful!

  • @heideknight9122
    @heideknight9122 Місяць тому

    I assumed this was going to happen. Glad to have your video suggested. Greed is a terrible thing.

  • @CrimsonBlot
    @CrimsonBlot Місяць тому +8

    Got Kesseph brand on amazon for 10.59, 5 pack and comes with a photo filter. Thank you for providing that link to that list, I was able to verify that the ones I purchased come from a verified manufacturer/seller. I was actually wondering if the ones I purchased was legit and this helped immensely. Thank you!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @wattswheelhouse
    @wattswheelhouse Місяць тому +4

    Great video! Scary that these things are being sold to people.
    Definitely missed the opportunity for a Jeff Goldblum "Light, uh... finds a way." quote. 😂

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      That really was a missed opportunity for sure! If I make another eclipse video, I'm going to steal that idea. :)

  • @PhatBoyFresh
    @PhatBoyFresh Місяць тому +2

    Mine come from American Paper Optics. I bought them at a Save-a-Lot grocery store. Glad I checked everything just to be safe. Thanks for the info.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      American Paper Optics is on the AAS list. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @perimele6
    @perimele6 Місяць тому +1

    The AAS approved vendor list is very useful.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Yes, it really is the gold standard. They vet all of the suppliers and look at their certification papers.

  • @dec2462
    @dec2462 Місяць тому +4

    Thank you! Sure enough I had bad ones, you saved our eyesight!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      I'm glad this helped. For what it's worth there are chances that the brand didn't make it onto the approved AAS list by their cutoff date last month, but the chances of that are slim. My "bad" glasses are so bad that I can almost walk around outside without bumping into things. I can see the ground, cars, horizon, etc.

  • @dumpydalekobservatory
    @dumpydalekobservatory Місяць тому +3

    Great video John I do hope you get to see the eclipse to shame I'm stuck here in the UK as I have a box full of Rainbow Symphony solar glasses at home that were donated to myself by the Charlie Bates Solar project when I used to do solar outreach, sadly since my friend whom I used to do outreach died & then covid struck my heart hasn't been into it any more.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +2

      The Rainbow Symphony are really terrific glasses. Sad to hear about your friend - it does knock the wind out of our sails when that happens. Sometimes you gotta drift a while until you find a new breeze. With eclipses, there is hope - there's a partial solar eclipse in the UK in march 2025.

  • @lindaward5376
    @lindaward5376 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks for the info. I obtained my eclipse glasses from my local science centre, and I'm happy to say that they passed all three tests with flying colours, so I'm good to go!!

  • @cherylmills150
    @cherylmills150 Місяць тому +2

    Genuinely appreciate your expertise as I feel much more comfortable in knowing that my lens are on the approved list.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Have a great eclipse day!

  • @debbiep99
    @debbiep99 Місяць тому +3

    Yay the glasses i bought are on the list 😊

  • @l.riggins1857
    @l.riggins1857 Місяць тому +7

    Although UV is known to cause aging and cataracts in the eye from repeated or long exposures, the primary concern for eye safety during solar eclipses is visible light. The eyes tissues are designed to transmit the visible spectrum of light. Looking directly at the sun or worse, looking through magnification, transmits the visible energy through to the retina in the back of the eye, causing damage. By contrast, the light outside the visible spectrum is absorbed or reflected by the outer tissues of the eye. This leaves the retina largely protected. The non-visible energy aborbed by the outer layers of the eye is not considered a health factor for the short duration of an eclipse. These outer layers develop cataracts after long, repeated exposure, normally over years.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thank you for posting. I've come up with a way to sortof measure UV transmittance. I should have it done later this week.

  • @EllieM_Travels
    @EllieM_Travels Місяць тому +1

    Thank you! All boxes check. Looked at my light and couldn’t see a thing. Much appreciated!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Happy to help. Have a great eclipse day!

  • @cicibrown5979
    @cicibrown5979 Місяць тому +1

    Thank you! I will be checking our glasses ASAP!

  • @MakeItorBreakItNow
    @MakeItorBreakItNow Місяць тому +3

    Great video, you deserve more subs and views.

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому +1

      Very kind words, thank you. To be honest, my channel is small and the response to this particular video is about 100 times more than my other videos. It's a bit bewildering, but I'm happy it's helping so many people. Have a great eclipse day!

    • @reflactor
      @reflactor  Місяць тому

      Thank you. This video has outperformed any video I've ever created on my entire channel, by a landslide. I am a bit bewildered.