How to Watch a Solar Eclipse Safely

Looking at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage in seconds — and you won’t feel it happening. Here is exactly how to watch the partial phases safely, and the one moment (total eclipse only) when it is safe to look with your bare eyes.

1. Eclipse glasses (the simplest safe option)

Certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses block about 99.999% of sunlight — thousands of times darker than sunglasses. With them on you should see nothing except the Sun itself. Buy only from reputable suppliers who state the ISO 12312-2 standard on the product.

Inspect them first: discard any pair that is scratched, punctured, torn, or coming apart from the frame.
Put them on before you look up, and turn away from the Sun before taking them off.
Supervise children at all times.
Do not use eclipse glasses with a telescope, binoculars, or camera — the concentrated light will destroy the filter and your eye. Optics need their own front-mounted filter.

2. Telescopes, binoculars and cameras

Any optic that gathers light must have a certified solar filter fitted over the front aperture — never at the eyepiece, where heat can crack it without warning. Use a purpose-made white-light solar filter (or properly certified solar film) rated for the instrument. For photography, see our eclipse exposure calculator for suggested settings.

3. Projection (no filter, no looking up)

The safest method of all is indirect: project the Sun onto a surface and look at the projection, not the Sun.

Pinhole: punch a small hole in card, hold it up, and let sunlight fall on a second card behind it. You’ll see a small image of the crescent Sun. A colander or straw hat makes dozens of pinhole images at once.
Telescope/binocular projection: with no filter, point the instrument at the Sun and let the eyepiece cast an image onto a white card a short distance behind it. Never put your eye to the eyepiece while doing this.

4. The only time you can look without a filter

Totality — and only totality. If you are inside the path of totality, then during the brief minutes when the Moon completely covers the Sun, the dazzling disc is gone and it is safe to look at the corona with your unaided eyes. The instant the Sun’s bright edge reappears (the “diamond ring”), put your eclipse glasses back on immediately.

A partial eclipse is never safe to view without protection, no matter how much of the Sun is covered — even at 99%, the remaining sliver is blindingly bright. Check whether your location sees totality or a partial eclipse on the cities & times page.

Frequently asked questions

Are sunglasses safe for watching an eclipse?: No. Even the darkest sunglasses transmit far too much light. You need ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter.
Can I look during a partial eclipse if most of the Sun is covered?: No. A partial eclipse is never safe to view with bare eyes. The exposed part of the Sun is still intensely bright and can cause permanent retinal damage.
How do I know my eclipse glasses are genuine?: They should be labelled ISO 12312-2, come from a reputable manufacturer, and let you see nothing but the Sun’s disc when you look through them. Discard any that are damaged.
Is it safe to photograph the eclipse with my phone?: Pointing a phone at the partial Sun briefly will not harm your eyes, but the sensor can be damaged and the image will be overexposed. Hold a spare pair of eclipse glasses over the lens for a better, safer result.

Plan your view

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only. ExoAtlas makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this content for any purpose. Solar observation carries inherent risks. Looking at the Sun without certified ISO 12312-2 solar viewers — except during the brief total phase of a total eclipse — can cause permanent, irreversible eye damage or blindness. You are solely responsible for your own safety and the safety of any person in your care. ExoAtlas expressly disclaims all liability for any injury, loss, or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, any information provided here. Always follow the guidance of qualified medical and scientific authorities.