LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The state of Arkansas takes center stage on April 8 as one of 15 states in the U.S. where the moon's shadow will turn daytime into darkness for up to four and a half minutes. A total solar eclipse is a rare event, and this one is expected to flood the Natural State with visitors.
As thousands prepare their travel and viewing plans, it's important to remember to get the correct eyewear before watching the eclipse.
But is there any difference between eclipse glasses and the kind of filter you would use for a camera? Here's what you need to know.
To see the eclipse, you must have eye protection that meets the International Safety Standard (ISO). These glasses are specially designed to block out harmful solar radiation and reduce the sun's brightness to a safe and comfortable level.
According to NASA, trying to view the eclipse through a camera lens is not safe. They cautioned that “viewing any part of the bright sun without a special-purpose solar filter, secured over the front of the optics, will instantly cause severe eye injury."
The American Astronomical Society agreed, advising not to use eclipse glasses with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes since those require different types of solar filters.
Those special-purpose filters typically come in three materials: metal on glass, aluminized polyester film, and black polymer. Camera maker Nikon said that camera lenses need special filters to protect them from intense sunlight and to ensure you don't accidentally look at the sun through an unfiltered instrument.
All of our sources say it is safe to take photos of the total solar eclipse with any type of camera, including a smartphone, as long as you have proper filters secured over the lens before and after totality.
So we can verify that yes, there are differences between ISO-certified eclipse glasses and camera filters that attach directly to the devices. But as long as you only look up at the sun through either of them, your eyes should be safe to enjoy the spectacular view of the eclipse!