ARKANSAS, USA — The sun is pulling a disappearing act during a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, and for the first time in over 100 years, the state of Arkansas is in the path of totality.
On the afternoon of April 8, for 4 minutes and 28 seconds, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies across Mexico, Texas, into Arkansas and Oklahoma, then make its way through the Midwest and New England before exiting over eastern Canada.
There won't be another comparable solar eclipse event in the U.S. until 2045.
That being said, if you want to look up at the sun during the eclipse safely, you need to be wearing specific safety solar eclipse glasses.
Solar eclipse glasses are often plastic or cardboard viewers made with special lens material that blocks all potentially harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Not to mention, the sun is bright!
Unfortunately, many online retailers take advantage of solar eclipse events and sell counterfeit glasses that are marketed as "eclipse viewing glasses" but aren't entirely safe and could result in eye damage.
If you're concerned that glasses you've already purchased aren't safe, here's what to look for:
- Make sure the lens material isn't loose from its frame
- When you look through the glasses, all you can see is the sun or a very bright LED light like your phone flashlight, for example.
- If you can see normal light reflections, the glasses aren't safe.
- Try to find somewhere on your order, packaging, or glasses themselves that they comply with the transmittance requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Luckily, solar eclipse glasses with safe solar filters are available throughout Arkansas— and in most cases free or inexpensive— at public facilities like schools, municipalities, and libraries. To learn more about eye safety during the solar eclipse, click here.
List of places to find solar eclipse glasses in Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
- Bentonville Public Library | 405 S. Main St., Bentonville, AR 72712
- Downtown Bentonville Solar-Bration on the Square (local businesses handing out glasses to customers during the event on April 8, 2024).
- Fayetteville Public Library | 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
- Harps Food Stores (any location)
- Lowe's stores
- Rogers Public Library | 711 S. Dixieland Rd., Rogers, AR 72758
- Springdale: Explore Scientific 1010 S. 48th St., Springdale, AR, 72762
- Staples stores
River Valley
- Arkansas Retina Clinic | 3215 S. 70th St., Fort Smith, AR 72903
- Charleston Public Library | 12 S. School Street, Charleston, AR
- Fat Daddy's Bar-B-Que | 104 N Denver Ave, Russellville, AR, 72801
- Fort Smith Public Library | 3201 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903
- Franklin County Library | 407 W. Market St., Ozark, AR 72949
- Greenwood Chamber of Commerce | 16 Town Square St, Greenwood, AR 72936
- Greenwood City Hall | 30 Bell Rd, Greenwood, AR 72936
- Greenwood Farmers Bank Branches:
- 71 W Center St, Greenwood, AR 72936
- 1310 W Center St, Greenwood, AR 72936
- Harps Food Stores (any location)
- Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitors Center | 100 State Park Drive, Russellville, AR 72802
- Laster Eye Center
- Booneville: 2 Riviera Drive
- Fort Smith: 8500 S 36th Terrace
- Greenwood: 1435 W Center Street
- Lowe's stores
- Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce | 300 W. Commercial St., Ozark, AR 72949
- Staples stores
- The Party Place (Fort Smith) | 7810 Rogers Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72903
- Van Buren Public Library | 1409 Main St., Van Buren, AR 72956
- Yeagers Hardware (Ace Hardware)
- Fort Smith: 4910 Jenny Lind Road
- Fort Smith: 2619 Rogers Avenue
- Greenwood: 814 West Center Street
- Van Buren: 1610 East Main Street
For locations to find solar eclipse glasses in central Arkansas, you can view a list here.
Do you know of somewhere selling solar eclipse glasses in Arkansas that isn't on this list? Send it to us in an email kfsmdigitalteam@tegna.com.
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