Update on the August 21st Solar Eclipse

Glasses, Safety Precautions, Other ways of Viewing & DIY Viewers

About London Drugs Celestron EclipSmart Solar Glasses:

In anticipation of the eclipse, London Drugs sourced and stocked ISO-certified Celestron EclipSmart solar safe shades. London Drugs is now sold out of eclipse glasses.
London Drugs was one of the only Canadian retailers on the American Astronomical Society’s Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers. See the complete list here: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.
Customers can bring their Celestron EclipSmart Solar Shades to London Drugs for recycling after the eclipse on August 21^st to receive a coupon for $10 off the purchase of any regularly priced camera, lens or binoculars valued at $99 or higher.* Eclipse glasses will not be safe to use for the next eclipse in 2044. They should be discarded if they are more than 3 years old.
*One coupon per pair of Celestron EclipsSmart Solar Shades recycled. Limit of one coupon may be applied to any camera, lens, or binocular purchase. Coupon effective August 21^st (after the eclipse ends) until August 31^st.

About Safety Precautions for Viewing the Eclipse:

Do NOT view the sun directly without eye protection. Regular sunglasses do not provide enough protection to view the eclipse since they don’t block out the ultra-violet and infrared rays that can damage the eyes.
Even with eclipse glasses, direct viewing must be limited to a MAXIMUM of 3 minutes (as per the recommended time from the manufacturer). Ensure that you are taking the time to rest your eyes between viewings. The best practice is to cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter, do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
Watch out for counterfeit eclipse glasses. If your glasses were not purchased at London Drugs or another source listed on the American Astronomical Society’s Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers, make sure they are designated ISO 12312-2, have an “ISO” icon and the company name and contact information must be clearly printed on the glasses.
Inspect the solar filter lenses for scratches or damage before use. Don’t use any eclipse glasses that are scratched, punctured, torn or damaged; or if they are over 3 years old these are unsafe and should be discarded. For more information, visit: https://www.eclipseglasses.com/pages/safety.

About Other Ways to Safely View the Eclipse:

Select London Drugs locations are hosting the eclipse viewing events to help customers view the eclipse safely. To learn more about these events, visit Londondrugs.com/WorkshopList and select a location from the drop-down menu.
Online / Live Stream Events
- NASA
- Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
- Local Media Broadcasts (by market)

DIY Solar Viewers