AccuWeather's Tony Laubach reports on how you can secure those necessary eclipse glasses prior to April's total solar eclipse.
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00:00 We're gonna go beyond just your forecast today, just your forecast, let's say for the next few weeks.
00:06 And we have to look two months away. Are we going above the clouds?
00:09 We are going above the clouds. See Ari gets my vibe. We are two months away from our total solar eclipse.
00:16 Are you prepared? No. Neither am I. All right,
00:20 maybe you're making your own viewing device or maybe you still need to get some eclipse glasses. Either way, the Eclipse Chaser.
00:26 I didn't even know that was a title. It is now the Eclipse Chaser, Tony Lombak.
00:30 He is joining us with some tips to help if you're still trying to finalize things. Oh, you got the glasses.
00:37 Look at Tony. Tony is so snazzy this morning. Of course, because I'm prepared.
00:44 Why don't you guys, this is like you have no excuses. No. I have plenty. I can't see anything right now.
00:53 Like this is like this is tough to see because these things are supposed to make it so you can look at the sun.
00:58 The bad news for me here in northern Colorado, there are clouds. That is something we're hoping not to see in two months.
01:04 I'm going to take these off because it is very dizzying and I have no idea even if I'm on camera anymore.
01:09 But yes, you need to think about being prepared because if you haven't started thinking about that yet,
01:14 you are probably going to be having some issues with that. One little trick I'm going to tell you about.
01:18 If you're still looking for these, check your local library, check some of your museums.
01:23 A lot of places, especially in the path of totality, are going to have these glasses available.
01:28 So maybe it's worth popping on in and seeing if there's a couple of pairs for them.
01:31 Some of them are giving them away for free. Some are charging.
01:34 So really, it's just going to be hit or miss depending on what you're able to find there.
01:37 Now, if you're an eclipse lover like me and you still have your glasses from 2017,
01:42 that big total solar eclipse that came through, we have some very good news for you.
01:48 You want to check and make sure that they're in good condition because if they don't have any scratches,
01:52 any holes in them, then they should still be able to be used here for the 2024 eclipse.
01:57 Even though it's been a span of seven years, that international standard for eclipse glasses, they're good indefinitely.
02:07 So that is some very good news for you. If you still have them, and again, check to make sure they're in good shape.
02:11 So you see you've got the lenses on here. Make sure that these don't have any of the cracks on them.
02:15 Make sure they don't have any holes in them. These should be good to go.
02:18 If you do need to find glasses, make sure you're buying from a reputable seller online.
02:23 And you're going to be looking for the ISO. Here's the number you need, folks.
02:26 Write this down. You're going to want this. 12312-2. Again, that is 12312-2.
02:35 Those are the ones that you need to use to look at the eclipse.
02:38 Now, unlike the partial eclipse, the annular ring of fire eclipse that we saw back earlier last year,
02:44 this one you are able to take the glasses off during the point of totality.
02:48 But again, you're going to need them prior to that and before that.
02:51 So again, make sure you're looking around at some of your local areas here.
02:54 A lot of the online shops may not have them and may not be able to ship them to you at a timely manner at this juncture.
03:01 Because again, as we mentioned, we are two months away from this.
03:04 So your best bet is probably going to be looking around in person.
03:06 Again, looking for these eclipse glasses, libraries, museums, any of those places will likely have them.
03:12 Even check some of your local TV stations. A lot of them may have that as well.
03:15 So go in and bug you guys for that. You guys will be in good shape, I would think.
03:19 Hey, Tony, I got to see the total solar eclipse back in 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina.
03:26 I know my experience. So, so cool. We want to hear about some of your experiences in the past.
03:32 Well, I got the lucky to be able to be in Southern Illinois.
03:35 You know, Carbondale, Illinois is actually the crossroads.
03:37 And that is kind of where I am targeting, obviously, weather permitting.
03:41 That was a whole new experience for me.
03:43 Now, I've chased some annular eclipses prior to that, but I had never experienced a total solar eclipse like that before.
03:48 And the big thing that sticks out to me, it was kind of the same with the annular,
03:51 is the uproar in people when the total solar eclipse came to totality.
03:55 The other thing I remember too, and I was looking at some of my video yesterday, putting together some stuff,
03:59 was the crickets and all the cicadas.
04:02 It was really, really quiet up until totality.
04:05 And as soon as totality hit, all the night creatures came to life.
04:08 It was very, very surreal.
04:10 And the 360-degree sunset, if you can be in an area that's kind of open, that's the way to see that.
04:16 Because then you get that full 360-degree sunset at totality.
04:19 Amazing story. We love hearing that.
04:22 And looking forward to checking in again when we are maybe just a month away as the countdown continues.
04:28 Hey, Tony, stay safe out there.
04:30 You're not chasing any storms this time around, but we appreciate the update.
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