Eclipse glasses sell out across Bavaria before total event

Eclipse glasses have sold out at many opticians across Bavaria before the solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, BR reported. People without certified protective glasses can still observe the eclipse indirectly using a homemade pinhole camera, which the Federal Office for Radiation Protection says is the safest method for the eyes.

Brillen Winkler, an optician in Munich’s Hadern district, sold its last pair on Monday after around 500 pairs had been purchased there in recent weeks. Optik Wittmann has also sold out at all three of its branches in Altötting. The company plans to receive another delivery by Wednesday, but a long waiting list has already formed.

An optician at Optikmeisterei in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm said the shop had received almost exclusively inquiries about eclipse glasses on Monday, even though its last pair had been sold on Saturday.

Pinhole camera offers a safe alternative

People who cannot find protective glasses can build a simple pinhole camera. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection provides two instructions using everyday materials such as cardboard, paper, aluminium foil, tape and a needle. One version uses a snack tube, while the other is made from cardboard.

Christian Sicka, an astronomy expert at the Deutsches Museum, advised against making protective glasses at home. Any filter film could contain tiny holes and would not be certified, he said, warning that this could cause eye damage. He also recommended a homemade pinhole camera as an alternative.

Old glasses from 1999 should not be reused

Many people in Bavaria still have eclipse glasses from 1999, according to a survey by Bayern1. However, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection advises against using them. After almost 30 years in drawers or boxes, the film may have developed holes or tears, or the cardboard frame may have come loose from the filter.

The office says filter film must not have scratches, holes, tears, damage where it meets the cardboard, or any other defects. Looking at the sun through a damaged filter can injure the retina within a very short time, permanently limiting or even destroying vision. Such injuries do not cause immediate pain or provide another warning signal.

Look for a high viewpoint facing west

The partial solar eclipse will reach its peak in Munich at about 8:15 p.m. on August 12, when nearly 89 percent of the sun will be covered. The sun will set shortly afterwards and will already be low in the sky. People in Bavaria hoping to see the eclipse should therefore choose a high location with an unobstructed view towards the west.