Baader Sunglasses for Solar Observation – Solar / Eclipse Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold – 60 Years

• Safe Solar Viewing! 100% UV protection, 100% IR protection, sunlight intensity reduced by 99.999%.
  The Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold—featuring original AstroSolar® film (Made in Germany)—safely protects your eyes during visual solar observation. Perfectly suited for viewing solar eclipses.
  Constructed from Baader AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film, offering a reflection-free view from the eye-side. Also blocks IR radiation, thereby preventing any uncomfortable sensation of heat within the eyeball. Optical Density: OD 5.0.
  CE / ISO Certified: Complies with the eye safety standard EN ISO 12312-2:2015. Usage instructions in four languages ​​(German, English, French, Spanish) are printed on the inside of the glasses.
  Single "Solar Viewer" solar eclipse glasses. Please store with care.
   

 

Beschreibung

With the Solar Viewer, the sun can be observed in any situation.




Complies with
EN ISO 12312-2:2015
The Solar Viewer sun-viewing glasses, featuring BAADER AstroSolar Silver/Gold film (OD 5.0), are CE/ISO-certified for direct viewing of the sun.
Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold
Sun-Viewing Glasses with Optical Density 5.0

With the Solar Viewer from Baader Planetarium, you acquire a high-quality product that is ideally suited for observing the sun with the naked eye. Perhaps the most popular use for these sun-viewing glasses is during a solar eclipse.

As the Moon slowly moves in front of the Sun, you can easily observe the Sun's gradual disappearance through the Solar Viewer. The spectacular event of a total solar eclipse—which typically lasts only a few minutes—should then be enjoyed without the glasses, and safely, with the naked eye.

However, the Solar Viewer is not limited to observing solar eclipses; you can also use it to spot larger sunspots or simply to explore the Sun at any time.

 

Safety Instructions and Information regarding AstroSolar® Silver/Gold Film

 

Notes and Specifications for Baader AstroSolar® Silver/Gold Film OD = 5.0

AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film is specifically designed for the visual observation of the sun without additional magnification. This film is used exclusively in our Solar Viewers.

The optical density of Solar Viewers featuring AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film is OD 5.0. Our Solar Viewers are CE-tested and comply with the standard EN ISO 12312-2:2015; they are thus certified for safe, direct viewing of the sun.

AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film is not optically post-processed for use with high magnifications; therefore, we do not recommend using it in combination with telescopes or cameras.

We have been manufacturing solar viewing glasses featuring AstroSolar® Silver film for over 25 years. During the solar eclipse of 1999, more than 20 million pairs of eclipse glasses with AstroSolar® Silver film were in use. For the 2017 solar eclipse in the USA, we are now introducing an advanced version to the market: the Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold, featuring a non-reflective inner surface for an outstanding viewing experience.

Unlike the black, carbon-impregnated absorption films produced by other manufacturers, the reflective metal layers of our AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film block the red spectral range—and, in particular, the invisible infrared component of light—significantly more effectively, thereby achieving a higher safety classification at the required optical density of OD 5.0.
 

Why is AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film not used for telescopes?

With our AstroSolar® Safety Film 5.0 for telescopes (shown on the right)—which is suitable for photography—the primary focus is on fine optical quality. This film must be handled with extreme care, as its double-sided metal coatings are just as delicate as the exposed primary mirror of a Newtonian telescope.

In contrast, with AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film—used for solar viewing glasses—the priority is visual observation without magnification. This film does not require fine optical quality. Instead, it is technically engineered with double-sided coatings that ensure a significantly more robust reflective surface—a feature that is crucial for solar viewing glasses, given the potential for occasional rough handling. When handled properly, AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film is scratch-resistant; more importantly, however, it does not produce a blurred "double image" of the Sun—a common occurrence with composite materials made from single-sided coated films bonded together. The double-sided coated AstroSolar® Silver/Gold film, on the other hand, delivers a perfectly sharp image, even allowing for the direct observation of larger sunspots.

Never attempt to photograph the Sun through solar viewing glasses—neither by holding a camera up to them, nor by attempting to mount them in front of a pair of binoculars—as larger lenses cannot be safely and securely covered using the glasses. Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold glasses must never be used in combination with any optical instrument that is pointed at the Sun without its own dedicated solar filter.
 

Never look at the Sun with the naked eye without a Solar Viewer—Danger!

Only during the few seconds or minutes of a total solar eclipse (when the Moon completely covers the Sun) is it safe to observe the solar corona with the naked eye (see photo below). The entire spectacle—which lasts for hours as the Moon moves across the Sun and then moves away again—must, however, be viewed exclusively with approved, safe eye protection: the Baader Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold.

Safe protection is also essential for all other types of solar observation—for instance, during a partial solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, or even during a brief daily glance at the Sun (when looking for large sunspots). Even when the Sun is 99% obscured by the Moon, the remaining photospheric crescent remains blindingly bright and can only be observed safely with appropriate eye protection.

Never attempt to observe the Sun with the naked eye, with ordinary sunglasses, or with unsuitable filters! Any negligence in selecting the correct solar protection can result in permanent eye damage or blindness.

Solar Viewer Usage: A total solar eclipse can be viewed without eye protection. All other forms of solar observation require protective measures! Images: (c) Sebastian Voltmer

The Solar Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold Eclipse Glasses

The very layout of the Solar Viewer is designed to offer a glimpse into the various methods of solar observation and the sheer beauty of our nearest star. The central section of the Solar Viewer depicts the view of the horizon during a total solar eclipse—a scene where the Sun appears enveloped by a dark, faintly clouded sky, while the entire surrounding horizon remains illuminated by the peripheral light of the Sun's shadow cone.

The left temple (viewed from the front) features, on its right side, a massive sunspot in white light—exactly as it appears when observing the Sun through these glasses. Adjacent to it is an enormous solar prominence, captured in the red light of the H-alpha wavelength. To the left of this, a tiny image of Earth is included to provide a realistic sense of scale relative to the sunspot depicted on the far right. At the tip of the temple, one sees the Sun set against a starry sky—an image captured during the Transit of Venus on June 6, 2012—clearly illustrating just how minuscule the planet Venus appears when silhouetted against the Sun.

The right temple displays a realistic image of Earth featuring the umbra (core shadow) of a solar eclipse; positioned above this is the eclipsed Sun against a stellar backdrop, serving to visually demonstrate the mechanics behind this celestial phenomenon. The tip of this temple features an image of a massive coronal mass ejection—a vast expulsion of matter hurtling from the Sun toward Earth—captured in the red light of the H-alpha wavelength.

Customization Options (Neutral White and Neutral Black Models): You are welcome to design your own custom stickers—sized 36.5 x 15.5 mm—and have them printed at the print shop of your choice. Please note that we are unable to provide design services or apply the stickers on your behalf.
 

 

 

Technical Specifications
Solar / Eclipse Viewer AstroSolar® Silver/Gold – 60 Years
Product Data

Item Number
2420004
EAN Code
4047825061461
Manufacturer
Baader Planetarium
Net Weight (kg)
0.01

Optical Properties

AstroSolar Film
AstroSolar® Silver/Gold Film
Optical Density
5.0
Sunlight Wavelength
White Light (Integral Light)

Mechanical Properties

Inner Diameter / Clear Aperture (mm)
approx. 3.7 x 2.8 cm
Solar Filter with Mount/Thread? 
No