Where to get eclipse glasses in Columbia

Protective eyewear to watch the Aug. 21 solar eclipse is on sale in some Columbia area stores and other locations.

Midlands tourism officials are finalizing plans to give away 100,000 pairs of the glasses with lenses that allow viewing the eclipse safely. Many of those are expected to be offered through some of the 120 eclipse weekend events.

VIDEO: What you need to know to get ready for the big eclipse in Columbia

Glasses are sold out at the Experience Columbia SC Visitors’ Center and the SC State Museum, though officials are trying to see about getting more.

A sampling of other places that will offer eclipse glasses:

▪ All Richland Library locations will be handing out glasses the weekend before the eclipse.

▪ Free glasses will be distributed at the majority of events listed on TotalEclipseColumbiaSC.com.

▪  Among places where you can purchase glasses, while supplies last, are the SC State House Gift Shop, Mast General Store on Main Street, Palmetto Traditions and 20/20 Vision in Five Points. Glasses generally range from $1-$3 each.

▪ Some area hotels also will offer glasses free to their guests who come for the eclipse.

Ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark, are inadequate because sunlight is intense.

The only period it will be safe to watch the eclipse without eyewear is the approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds when the moon totally blacks out the sun.

How do I know if my eclipse glasses are safe?

August’s upcoming eclipse will be watched by millions of people across the United States. And, except for a brief couple of minutes for those in the path of totality, almost all of it will be watched through those eclipse glasses.

NASA warned recently that some glasses being distributed may not be safe. So how do you know if yours are?

Safe glasses for eclipse viewing will be certified by ISO with a reference number of 12312-2 printed on the glasses. NASA lists American Paper Optics, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical and TSE 17 as reputable producers of eclipse glasses whose products can be trusted. They also recommend AstroSolar Silver/Gold lensed glasses by Baader Planetarium.

Eclipse glasses can be quite fragile, and NASA advises that there are instances in which, even if manufactured properly, they may be unsafe. If lenses are scratched or wrinkled they should not be used, and glasses older than 3 years are similarly dangerous.

The use of homemade filters is also discouraged by NASA, as even exceptionally dark ones provide no protection while looking at the sun.

Totality comes in Columbia at 2:41 p.m., lasting until roughly 2:44 p.m.

VIDEO: How to safely watch a solar eclipse

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Where to get eclipse glasses in Columbia."