Free solar eclipse glasses are being given away by the millions -- here's where to grab a pair

When was the last time you stepped into a library? If you plan to gaze up at the solar eclipse on August 21, now may be a good time to visit your local branch.

Looking at the solar eclipse can be risky. Even if you’re in the path of totality, where the moon fully blocks the sun, the star will be visible as a partial eclipse during nearly 99% of the event. This also means the sun’s damaging rays of ultraviolet light (the same kind that cause sunburn) will be shining — and too much exposure can temporarily or even permanently damage your eyesight, even if you’re wearing regular sunglasses.

While there are many simple, cost-effective ways to protect your peepers, nothing is quite as convenient or nerd-chic as a pair of cheap, paper-framed solar eclipse sunglasses.

However, eclipse glasses and viewers are selling out across the US, and there are also reports of unscrupulous sellers flooding the market with ineffective fakes to make a quick buck.

Which is where your library might come to the rescue.

“With support from NASA, Google, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Space Science Institute’s STAR_Net initiative has distributed more than 2 million ISO-compliant safe solar eclipse glasses to more than 6,900 libraries all across the U.S.,” according to American Astronomical Society’s website about the 2017 total solar eclipse.

However, STAR_Net notes on this page that “most libraries have already given away their allotment of glasses” and the ones that remain “are intended for their eclipse programming events ONLY” — which means you may need to participate in a day-of event to snag a pair. (Ask a librarian for details.)

If your library is a bust, peruse this map of NASA viewing event locations. In these locations, the space agency is distributing an additional 1.5 million pairs of eclipse glasses. While many viewing events are in the path of totality, there will be some near other major cities, too.

Solar eclipse glasses are not a must-have. You can make a pinhole camera, which is a simple, safe, and inexpensive alternative to looking directly at the sun.