How to watch a solar eclipse safely

Looking at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage, and it doesn't hurt while it happens. This guide is for information only and doesn't replace the manufacturer's instructions or medical advice.

With the naked eye

Use eclipse glasses marked with the standard ISO 12312-2 during all partial phases.
Check they have no scratches or holes, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Ordinary sunglasses, however dark, don't protect you. Neither do photographic negatives or smoked glass.
Supervise children at all times.

With a telescope, binoculars or camera

They need a certified front-mounted solar filter, securely attached in front of the lens.
Eclipse glasses are not for looking through optics: the concentrated light passes through them and can damage your eyes.
Don't use solar filters that screw into the eyepiece.
Cover telescope finder scopes.

During totality

Only while the Sun is completely covered, inside the path of totality, can you look without protection. Put your glasses back on as soon as the first flash of light reappears. Outside the path, that moment never comes, even at 99% obscuration.

Not in an annular eclipse either: the ring of Sun stays dangerous from start to finish.

Indirect methods

Projecting the Sun through a small hole onto a surface lets you watch without looking directly. Always do it with your back to the Sun.

Out in the field

In August, heat and direct sun are a risk in themselves: bring water and sun protection.
Respect access rules and the regulations of natural areas. Check that you are allowed to be at your chosen spot.
Expect very busy roads: arrive early and don't stop on the hard shoulder.