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ASTRONOMERS WITHOUT BORDERS COLLECTING AND RECYCLING ECLIPSE VIEWING GLASSES FOR FUTURE SOLAR ECLIPSES AROUND THE WORLD

 Calabasas, CA, March 26, 2024: Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) is collecting gently-used eclipse-viewing glasses from across the US and Canada to send to underserved communities and schools internationally for use in future solar eclipses. 

 As a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America from coast-to-coast on April 8, millions of eclipse glasses will be used to safely witness this dramatic celestial event. Now, AWB, with the help of its many partners, have launched a continent-wide grassroots initiative to collect gently-used eclipse glasses to give them a second life before they unnecessarily reach landfills. 

Through the enthusiastic support of local libraries, schools, museums, city governments, commercial businesses, and community organizations, collection centers are quickly popping up to ensure that as many glasses as possible are recycled.  

Of special mention: one of our key partners, Warby Parker, is making a financial donation to AWB, and will also utilize their 240+ retail locations across the United States as eclipse glasses collection sites on behalf of our organization. The donated glasses will then be sent to AWB storage locations for future use.

Radio telescope facility, the Greenbank Observatory in West Virginia, has generously donated storage space to vet and store a portion of the nationally collected glasses. Every pair of glasses will be inspected by trained volunteers to make sure they meet safety certifications, and are not damaged or counterfeit, and then packed for storage and shipping. 

This unique resource-sharing project is the second recycling campaign AWB is conducting, having had great success distributing hundreds of thousands of eclipse glasses collected from the 2017 American solar eclipse. Recycled and vetted solar glasses were sent to schools that were in the path of solar eclipses in South America, Africa and Asia over the past seven years.  

This one-of-a-kind program helps to bring eclipse glasses to people who may not otherwise have a safe way to view the eclipse directly. AWB is committed to continue sending glasses to those who need them for outreach and educational programs around the world. Building a community beyond time and place, these recycled glasses are going to allow Americans to witness the 2024 Great American Eclipse and build bridges to individuals all over the world!

AWB is also seeking sponsors to continue supporting processing, storage, and shipping of the glasses expected to be donated.

AWB has also launched a solar eclipse viewing companion App called ‘One Eclipse’ where the proceeds go to support the eclipse glasses recycling program. 

https://shop.astronomerswithoutborders.org/pages/one-eclipse-app

For more information about the AWB solar glasses recycling program visit: 

https://my.astronomerswithoutborders.org/programs/solar-glasses-distribution

Entities interested in becoming a collection centre are encouraged to contact AWB eclipse glasses recycling manager at zoe@astronomerswithoutborders.org. 

  Astronomers Without Borders is a US 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization incorporated in California.

About Astronomers Without Borders: Astronomers Without Borders connects people worldwide through innovative programs that are accessible to everyone regardless of geography and culture. Combining local events with online technology and a global community, Astronomers Without Borders is a leader in promoting understanding and peaceful international relations, while also supporting outreach and education in astronomy. For more information visit: www.astronomerswithoutborders.org.

About Warby Parker: Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) was founded in 2010 with a mission to inspire and impact the world with vision, purpose, and style–without charging a premium for it. Headquartered in New York City, the co-founder-led lifestyle brand pioneers ideas, designs products, and develops technologies that help people see, from designer-quality prescription glasses (starting at $95) and contacts, to eye exams and vision tests available online and in itsmore than 240 retail stores across the U.S. and Canada. 

Warby Parker aims to demonstrate that businesses can scale, do well, and do good in the world. Ultimately, the brand believes in vision for all, which is why for every pair of glasses or sunglasses sold, they distribute a pair to someone in need through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. To date, Warby Parker has worked alongside its nonprofit partners to distribute more than 15 million glasses to people in need.

About Green Bank Observatory: The Green Bank Observatory enables leading edge research at radio wavelengths by offering telescope, facility, and advanced instrumentation access to the astronomy community. With radio astronomy as its foundation, the Green Bank Observatory is a world leader in advancing research, innovation, and education. For more information, visit https://greenbankobservatory.org/  The Green Bank Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation and is operated by Associated Universities, Inc. 

Andrew Fazekas

AWB Communications Manager

Email: andrew@astronomerswithoutborders.org

Follow Astronomers Without Borders on X (formerly Twitter)  @awb_org and on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/astronomerswithoutborders

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