Editor's Note: Live coverage of the eclipse from the path of totality begins in the player above starting at 7 a.m. Tune in for live totality starting at 1:55 p.m.
Astronomers and doctors have for weeks reiterated the importance of getting proper eye protection in the lead-up to Monday's total solar eclipse.
Medical experts widely assert that ISO-certified glasses will be necessary to prevent serious eye injuries when the eclipse passes over parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Safe solar viewing glasses are the most widely suggested tool for viewing the spectacle safely, but they aren't the only option.
You can build a do-it-yourself box pinhole projector or use a telescope with a solar filter.
There's yet another alternative beyond both of those, and it's one many might not have thought of: a welder's helmet.
If you have an old welder's helmet around the house and are thinking of using it, your helmet might not cut it.
Obtaining one that does could be hard to find.
Local
Only welding helmets with a shade number of 12 or higher allow for safe viewing of the sun, according to a 2017 NASA article.
However, one welding equipment manufacturer insists a shade 12 filter doesn't go far enough. For eclipse viewing, Phillips Safety Products only recommends welding glasses and helmets with a shade number of 14.
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Such products are only used for heavy-duty welding and aren't typically found in hardware stores.
"This rating is specifically designed for extreme welding conditions and provides complete protection to your eyes, limiting visibility only to the area surrounding the sun itself," a post on its website read.
It's important to note that a helmet with the appropriate filter is only safe when viewing a total eclipse. For communities that will experience a partial eclipse, like in the Chicago area, it won't suffice.
While shade 14 welding masks might be "a viable alternative," glasses designed specifically for solar events provide better protection, Phillips Safety explained.
And even if you have a helmet with a shade 14 rating, it's not a good idea to stare at the sun for too long.
"A partially eclipsed sun is still too bright for the helmet to protect you, and the damage to your eyes might not be immediate or noticeable," the company explained. "Therefore, it’s important to use lenses with solar filters that meet internationally set safety standards to view the eclipse safely without any worry of damage to your eyes."
