This page is for suppliers of two types of devices to enable direct observation of the uneclipsed, partially eclipsed, or annularly eclipsed Sun:
- Eclipse glasses, handheld viewers, or other products meant for "naked eye" use, that is, without magnifying optics.
- Aperture filters meant for attachment over the front of optics, including camera lenses, binoculars, and telescopes.
Specifically, this page tells how to get listed on our Suppliers of Safe Solar Filters & Viewers page. In short, you must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force that your products are safe, i.e., that when used properly, they will protect observers' eye(s) from injury by reducing the Sun's ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation to safe levels. There is no charge to be listed, but see our disclaimer below.
In addition to what's described below, we require a URL (website address) where potential customers can learn more about your products and, if you sell online, purchase your products.
For Manufacturers of Eclipse Glasses & Handheld Solar Viewers
We require all of the following:
- A laboratory test report showing conformity with the ISO 12312-2 standard (with changes or exceptions as described in the companion article "About the ISO 12312-2 Standard for Solar Viewers"); and
- The test report must come from a testing/calibration laboratory accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard by a full member/signatory of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) or, in the European Union, by a notified body that has been notified to carry out conformity assessments for regulation (EU) 2016/425 Personal Protective Equipment; and
- For labs accredited by a full member/signatory of the ILAC MRA, the lab must be accredited specifically to test products for conformity to ISO 12312-2, as indicated by the accreditation scope and certificate provided by the accrediting body.
Here's where you identify properly accredited laboratories or, in the EU, appropriate notified bodies:
- ILAC MRA Signatory Search (first, find the accreditation body for the applicable economy/country, then examine that body's list of accredited facilities)
- EU Notified Bodies (scroll/page till you find the applicable country, then examine the list of notified bodies in that country)
Laboratory test reports must be quantitative, that is, they must report measurements of transmittance at visible, UVA, UVB, and IR wavelengths (ISO 12312-2 section 4.1.1) and of uniformity of luminous transmittance (section 4.1.2). Reports that simply report "pass" or "fail" (or their equivalents) for these sections of the ISO 12312-2 standard are unacceptable. Test reports should be sent to eclipse@aas.org.
For Manufacturers and/or Specialty Dealers of Solar Filters for Optics
As noted in the companion article "About the ISO 12312-2 Standard for Solar Viewers," solar filters meant for use with camera lenses, binoculars, or telescopes are not covered by ISO 12312-2; in fact, there is at present no international standard for such filters. But any filter material that meets the transmittance, uniformity, and quality requirements of ISO 12312-2 (with changes or exceptions as described in that article) should also be safe to use with optics as long as the user follows the instructions included with the filter and/or the instructions on our Solar Filters for Optics: Telescopes, Binoculars & Cameras page.
To get onto our suppliers list, we require either of the following:
- A test report from a properly accredited laboratory (as described above) showing that your filter material meets the requirements of ISO 12312-2 sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2, and 4.2.1 (with changes or exceptions as described in the article "About the ISO 12312-2 Standard for Solar Viewers"); or
- The name and contact information of the manufacturer who makes your solar-filter material.
In the second case, if the supplier is already on our list, we'll verify with them that they are making your solar-filter material. If the supplier is not yet on our list, we will ask them (or you may ask them) to send us the information we require as described above. Materials should be sent to eclipse@aas.org.