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Eclipse approaches with glasses shortage and viewing parties planned

The solar eclipse is just days away, and demand for safety glasses is intensifying.

Retailers and not-for-profits are scrambling to fill orders for the special dark glasses that protect the human eye from the blinding sun.

Ivy Tech Community College had planned to distribute glasses at its eclipse event on Monday, but has dropped those plans due to a recall notice from Amazon.

Amazon said it’s recalling thousands of glasses “out of an abundance of caution” because they may not comply with industry standards.

In a news release, Ivy Tech says it purchased the glasses from a NASA-approved company, and the safety glasses had the correct ISO and Shade Level requirements, but to be safe, the school will not distribute the glasses.

The watch party called “It’s a New Day at Ivy Tech” will instead watch the eclipse through pinhole projectors.

The eclipse and watch parties at Ivy Tech, USI, and Angel Mounds among others begin before 11:55 Monday morning, when the moon begins to cover the moon.

The eclipse will reach 99-percent in Evansville at 1:24 p.m, and end at 2:49 p.m.

Parts of western Kentucky and southern Illinois will see a total eclipse.

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