(PRESS RELEASE) ALEXANDRIA, VA – A nonprofit member association, The Vision Council represents the U.S. during the creation and maintenance of international optical industry technical standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which includes ISO 12312-2, the standard that all ‘filters for the direct observation of the sun’ should meet.
“Industry standards help protect both manufacturers and consumers; they ensure everyone is aware of the minimum safety requirements necessary to preserve one of humanity’s most critical senses – sight,” says Michael Vitale, VP of Membership, Government Relations and Technical Standards, at The Vision Council. “Check that your eclipse glasses are marked with ISO 12312-2 and keep your eyes safe while viewing this once in a lifetime experience.”
An expert on optical industry standards, Vitale leads The Vision Council’s participation in ISO and serves as Secretariat for the Accredited Standards Committee of Ophthalmic Optics (ASC Z80) at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
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Beyond the Standards
Throughout history, major celestial events have inspired both fear and wonder and the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, is guaranteed to leave viewers in awe.
Celebrate this wonder with The Vision Council’s Total Solar Eclipse Guide:
1. Check your ISO
If you’re planning to watch the eclipse in person, make sure you wear eclipse glasses marked with ISO 12312-2 for the duration of the event.
2. Prepare to safely take eclipse photos
Want to snap some photos of the eclipse before it reaches totality? Snag an extra pair of ISO-compliant glasses for your smartphone – this will act as a solar filter for your camera lens. Before you begin snapping, be sure to turn off your phone’s flash, and turn on the burst setting for the best chance of capturing the eclipse.
3. Countdown with eclipse cinema celebrities
Compared to other astronomical events like asteroid threats or space travel, solar eclipses are depicted less often in film. See how eclipses on the silver screen compare to the real thing and stream one of these movies that feature the phenomenon:
- King Solomon’s Mines (1937)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- Little Shop of Horrors (1976)
- A Knight in Camelot (1998)
- Judy Berlin (1999)
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
- The Wild Thornberry’s Movie (2002)
- Apocalypto (2006)
4. Celebrate with an eclipse (of the heart) playlist
Hosting a viewing party on April 8? Follow the stages of the solar eclipse through song with The Vision Council’s Total Solar Eclipse Playlist, available here.
- Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis (1958)
- Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
- Steal My Sunshine, LEN (1999)
- Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler (1983)
- Eclipse, Pink Floyd (1973)
- Ain’t No Sunshine, Bill Withers (1971)
- Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles (1969)
- Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (1976)
- Soak Up the Sun, Sheryl Crow (2002)
- Solar Power, Lorde (2021)
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Download The Vision Council’s Total Solar Eclipse Guide
here.
The 2024 solar eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse to be visible across the contiguous United States until 2044, so take advantage of this opportunity to marvel at one the world’s most spectacular natural occurrences and make safe viewing a priority.
For more information and resources about the April 8 eclipse, including a social media toolkit and links to authorized eclipse glasses retailers, visitthevisioncouncilfoundation.org/eclipse.