If you're planning to gaze upon the upcoming Great American Eclipse in April through run-of-the-mill sunglasses, you're doing it wrong. In the face of the sun's powerful rays, regular specs made of cheap plastic and polycarbonate material just aren't going to cut it. That's why astronomers and other experts emphasize that skygazers intent on viewing the upcoming total solar eclipse do so with specialized eyewear crafted to protect their sensitive retinas from permanent damage.
Solar eclipse glasses are readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet. Just make sure you get certified spectacles before the eclipse cuts a long path on April 8 across North America, shrouding much of the U.S. in darkness.
