Where to buy last-minute solar eclipse glasses and viewing gear before August 12

two women looking at the sun wearing solar eclipse glasses — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Even though August 12's solar eclipse won't be much to look at for observers in the U.S., it'll be even less impressive if you can't look at it at all. In order to see the partial phases, you MUST wear a pair of certified solar glasses or solar binoculars to view the sun safely.

The American Astronomical Society states, "ISO 12312-2 specifies the properties that a solar viewer should have in order to protect your eyes from injury and provide a comfortable view."

With the eclipse fast approaching, there is still time to pick up some last-minute solar viewing equipment, but some retailers are already selling out and won't be able to deliver before Wednesday, August 12.

Here are the best options you can still get hold of before the solar eclipse.

The Celestron EclipSmart 12x50 solar binoculars provide safe solar viewing with 12x magnification, and Prime members still have time to have them delivered before August 12.

But there's a rather large caveat here. Buying them mere days before a solar eclipse is arguably the worst possible time to purchase them, as this is when they're most expensive. For example, last October, they went down to $26.82. (Ah, capitalism).

So unless you plan on observing the sun all-year round, perhaps stick to the solar glasses for now and buy them in a few months when they're cheap so you're ready for the next one.

For the tech-nerds who want to take photos or a time-lapse of the eclipse, the Dwarf Mini is an affordable and portable smart telescope that comes with a solar filter and provides effortless solar imaging.

It was cheaper at the beginning of July, but it's still a great investment that you can use day and night all year round, so we wouldn't let the higher price put you off. Plus, it's still much more affordable than most, if not all, other smart telescopes.

Prime members can get same-day delivery (depending on location).

Read our full Dwarf Mini review

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Kimberley Lane, E-commerce writer for Live Science, has tested a wide range of optical equipment, reviewing camera gear from Sony, Canon, OM System and more. With over 6 years of photography experience, her skills span across landscape and seascape photography, wildlife, astrophotography and portrait work. Her photos have been featured in a number of national magazines, including Digital Camera World and Cosmopolitan. She has also contributed to our sister site Space.com and Tech Radar, and she regularly uses binoculars and telescopes to stargaze in the dark skies of South Wales.