In April, right after the 4/8/2024 Great Solar Eclipse had passed, the Greater Princeton & Far Beyond Branch of AYLUS started an event to encourage its members to collect eclipse glasses for Astronomers without Borders.
So you listened to all the experts and got solar eclipse glasses. Now that the eclipse has passed, what do you do with them?
It will be decades before you’ll need them again in the U.S. and most glasses shouldn’t be used if they’re more than three years old.
Before you chuck them in the bin, there might be a way to give them another life: As KUT Austin reports, the nonprofit Astronomers Without Borders is collecting glasses to send around the world for others to use during their next opportunity in the path of an eclipse.
Sending Solar Glasses to Build Community
Astronomers Without Borders has been sending solar glasses for annular and total solar eclipse since 2008. From Africa, Asia, North and South America, our members, partners and National Coordinators helped to bring glasses to people who may not otherwise have a safe way to view the eclipse directly. Travellers from the United States graciously volunteered to bring them in their luggage and hand them out to local educators and organizers of public viewing events.
Recycling Donated Glasses
Building a community beyond time and place – glasses that once allowed Americans to witness the 2017 Great American Eclipse built bridges to individuals all over the world!
Millions of donated glasses turned into a few hundred thousand that were vetted for reusability.
Tens of thousands were then sent to South America, Asia, Africa and South America again. Seven years after the Great American Total Solar Eclipse, we have dispensed all the glasses that were entrusted to us from generous Americans who sent them to us at their own expense.
AWB is committed to continue sending glasses to those who need them for outreach and educational programs around the world.
Collection Partners
Are you looking for a place to donate your glasses? Here’s our list of Collection Nodes that can vet and store them!
Come back and check often, our list is growing!
State Organization Name Address
National Warby Parker
240+ Retail Outlets (Find a Store)
Indiana Vessel Refillery FW
10376 Leo Road, Suite G, Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Ohio Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful Attn: Adam Cassi, 1011 Matzinger Rd., Toledo, Oh 43612
Ohio Twinsburg Public Library 10050 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg, OH 44087
Vermont Montshire Museum of Science 1 Montshire Rd, Norwich, VT 05055, United States
Vermont Chittenden Solid Waste District 19 Gregory Drive, Suite 204, South Burlington, VT 05403
Great way to be environmentally friendly and help others experience a Solar Eclipse!
Donate your glasses to AYLUS to be sent to other countries, such as Latin America, for children to enjoy the eclipse in August 2024.
Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC, PO Box 50571, Provo, UT 84605
GPA Volunteers: Aiden Jia (4/8, 2 hrs; 4/9, 2 hrs), Steven Li (4/9, 2 hrs), Claire Hua (4/14, 1 hr), Ashley Zhang (4/14, 1 hr), Emily Zhang (4/14, 1 hr), Jeff Lin (4/17, 2 hrs), Annie Xu (4/21, 2 hrs)
