Solar eclipse-viewing glasses from the Cincinnati Observatory Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Observatory

A total solar eclipse will take over the sky in Greater Cincinnati this spring, and the Cincinnati Observatory has the item you’ll need to view it safely.

On April 8, the sun will be fully obscured by the moon, causing a visible solar corona to the naked eye for a few precious minutes. In full blazing glory, the path of totality, where onlookers can experience total darkness and optimal brilliance, will be only a short drive from Cincinnati. And as excitement builds for this rare celestial event, the observatory is stocking up on specially designed eclipse glasses that will protect viewers’ eyes from sun damage.

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“We’re thrilled to be able to offer eclipse glasses to the community and provide a safe way for people to experience the wonder of a solar eclipse,” Cincinnati Observatory Executive Director Anna Hehman said in a press release. “Eclipse glasses are an essential tool for anyone planning to observe the solar eclipse. This is a rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s most breathtaking phenomena, and we want to make sure that everyone can enjoy it safely.”

The eclipse glasses are $5 a pair, with a limit of six per person. These glasses are certified with the ISO 12312-2 label for direct solar viewing and come with special solar filters that block out 99.999% of the sun’s light for safe sky-gazing.

Eclipse watchers can visit the observatory from noon to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays or Friday evenings during astronomy events to purchase their glasses. You can also get a pair of glasses with the purchase of a Cincinnati Observatory membership. The observatory says to plan on getting your glasses sooner rather than later as they expect to sell out.

Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place, Mt. Lookout. More info: cincinnatiobservatory.org.

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This article appears in Feb 12-12, 2024.

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...