You'll need special glasses to see the solar eclipse: Where to find them in Peoria, online

Ahjané Forbes and Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY NETWORK
·5 min read

If you're planning to get a good look at the total solar eclipse on April 8, you might want to protect your eyes.

Organizations in Peoria are preparing for the big event with watch parties and eyeglass giveaways.

Experts suggest that people attending a watch party to view the rare phenomena should protect their eyes properly to prevent potential damage.

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The sun's powerful rays can burn the eyes and damage the retinas of those who don't wear proper eye protection or take other safety precautions to view solar eclipses.

Even viewing any part of the bright sun through camera lenses, binoculars and telescopes without a specialized solar filter could instantly cause severe eye injury, according to the American Astronomical Society.

Eclipse party attenders can purchase solar eclipse glasses here:

Peoria Riverfront Museum

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is selling solar eclipse glasses to prepare for the watch party.

If you are interested in purchasing a pair of these glasses, you can visit the museum in-person. The glasses are being sold in the museum's store.

A representative from the store said the glasses are available to purchase for $4.

Fondulac District Library

According to a Facebook post, Fondulac District Library will be hosting a solar eclipse watch party.

In addition, the library will be giving away eclipse glasses for free starting April 1.

Glasses can picked up from any of the library's information desks, or on the day of the event, the post states.

The Sun Foundation

The Sun Foundation, an arts and science education organization, is hosting a solar eclipse watch party at the Black Bar Distillery.

Tickets will be sold for $49 per person. Every ticket sold will cover the cost of food, protective solar eclipse glasses and access to the event performance by Chicago Farmer, Sun Foundation Co-Founder and Developer Joan Root Ericksen said.

Root Ericksen said the organization will be celebrating 50 years of existence and would love to see the community come together to view the eclipse.

Online options for solar eclipse glasses

Absolute Eclipse

This online retailer has a variety of choices when it comes to solar eclipse glasses. If you're looking for a basic solid color like black or something more vibrant like rainbow colors, Absolute Eclipse offers fashionable options for everyone.

Prices start at $7.95 for two solar eclipse glasses. Interested buyers are able to purchase a bundle of 100 while supplies last. The website also features solar eclipse filters for mobiles devices and cameras to protect the lens.

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American Paper Optics

If you ever watched a movie in 3D, you probably have gotten a pair of glasses from American Paper Optics without even knowing. This company offers much more than the paper glasses you only get at the movie theaters. To prepare for the annular eclipse in October 2017, American Paper Optics announced that the company would start manufacturing solar eclipse glasses in a press release in September 2016.

Since then, the company has been selling the "eclipsers" in different styles and features glasses with names that are puns to mark the solar eclipse.

The "Sunny Side Up" glasses will not only make you stand out at a watch party, but will be a great conversation starter about the eclipse. The eyeglass retailer offers customers purchase options starting at four glasses for $23.80.

If you'd like to capture the historical moment with your camera, the company offers solar eclipse filters as well.

Why do you need glasses for a solar eclipse?

The sun's powerful rays can burn the eyes and damage the retinas of those who don't wear proper eye protection or take other safety precautions to view solar eclipses.

Even viewing any part of the bright sun through camera lenses, binoculars and telescopes without a specialized solar filter could instantly cause severe eye injury, according to the American Astronomical Society.

Unlike other solar eclipses, a total eclipse offers spectators a chance to gaze upon the spectacular sight with the naked eye after the orbiting moon completely blocks out the sun's light, leaving only the outermost layer visible.

But until that moment, spectators will need proper eyewear just like they would for any other eclipse.

Solar eclipse glasses must be from an approved vendor

There's one caveat to all this as you do your eclipse glasses shopping: There are plenty of fakes and imitators out there, so make sure you're buying a proper certified pair.

Don't worry: it's easier to verify your purchase than you may think. For your convenience, the American Astronomical Society maintains a curated list of approved vendors. In preparation for the upcoming eclipse primarily concentrated in North America, the organization has updated its list to give priority to North American manufacturers.

The organization, which ensures eclipse glasses are in compliance with the International Organization for Standardization, says most approved vendors use solar filters manufactured by AstroSolar and Thousand Oaks Optical, according to Space.com. Regardless, your best bet is to look for a product that is labeled with "ISO," a surefire sign that the independent organization vouches for the product's safety and quality.

To be ISO-approved, solar eclipse glasses have to meet a host of requirements, the most important of which arguably pertains to how much of the sun's light is able to transmit through the filters.

Path of totality: Where can I see the eclipse?

The 115-mile-wide path of totality will pass over portions of Mexico and the United States, ending in Canada.

In the U.S. alone, hundreds of cities and smaller towns in 13 states lie along the path, providing a glimpse to an estimated 31 million Americans of a spectacular sight not often seen, according to eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com.

Some of the major cities include:

  • Dallas and San Antonio, Texas

  • Little Rock, Arkansas

  • Indianapolis

  • Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio

  • Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York

  • Erie, Pennsylvania

Additionally, small parts of Tennessee and Michigan are also expected to experience the eclipse, NASA says. In the United States, the eclipse's path will end in Maine before visiting the maritime provinces of Canada, according to estimates.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Special glasses to see the solar eclipse available in Peoria, online