You could do a really good thing, and all it takes is not going to your trashcan!
Unless you enjoy simulating what it’s like to be completely blind in your everyday life, those eclipse glasses you wore on Monday are likely to collect considerable dust between now and the next coast-to-coast eclipse in 2024.
But as Gizmodo reports, there’s an alternative: Donating your eclipse glasses to Astronomers Without Borders, which will redistribute them to children who can’t afford them in Asia and South America, where there will be solar eclipses in 2019.
“Many schools in developing countries don’t have resources for science education and this is a rare opportunity that inspires students and teachers and shows them that science is something they can do,” says Astronomers Without Borders president Mike Simmons.
While the organization hasn’t yet announced an address for donors to send glasses to, it’s trying to spread the word before people throw them away and plans on releasing a list of addresses soon. Simmons said Astronomers Without Borders wants people to hang onto their glasses while it arrange for astronomy clubs and companies to receive them.