Google has solar eclipse glasses for the masses

We're not sure if you've heard, but this total solar eclipse we've got coming up is a pretty big deal. It's definitely a rare event to have a total solar eclipse like this cross from the United States' west coast to the east coast, and indeed, the next one to do so won't occur until August 12, 2045. It's little surprise, then, that Google has teamed up with Mystery Science to get people outside to view the event.

While most adults will likely understand the significance of such an event (some of us might not be around in 2045, after all), getting children excited about it is another thing entirely. Google and Mystery Science are teaming up to offer resources to teachers to educate children on why this is such a momentous event, along with why they should want to try catching a glimpse of the total solar eclipse when it rolls through later this month.

In fact, Mystery Science has set up a special website – EclispeAmerica.org – to do just that. It's on there that teachers (or anybody, really) can download lesson plans to teach about the solar eclipse, which includes video explanations created for children. The website also offers an eclipse tracker, which allows you to enter your ZIP code to find out when the eclipse will begin in your area, along with how long it will last, when you'll be able to view the totality, and how much of the sun will be covered.

Here's where Google comes in: not only will Google help distribute eclipse viewing glasses to libraries in the STAR Library Education Network free of charge, but it's also providing Mystery Science with 15,000 free glasses that teachers can request directly. Teachers who are interested in ordering some glasses for their classroom can head to the Eclipse America website to request their pairs.

Whether these glasses are first sent to libraries or sent directly to teachers, they won't cost a dime. Google says these glasses "meet NASA's standards and have extremely dark lenses as they were made by Rainbow Symphony," so there's no risk of damaging your eye sight while using them. The total solar eclipse is going down on August 21, so if you're a teacher and you want to snag some free eclipse glasses for your students, you might want to hop on this quick.