Bartlett-Made Eclipse Glasses Travel to Moon and Back

Specialty eyewear from American Paper Optics used by Artemis II astronauts during historic mission.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:07am

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A highly textured abstract painting in earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, conceptually representing the vast distance traveled by the eclipse glasses from Earth to the moon and back.The eclipse glasses from Bartlett traveled an astounding 695,081 miles to the moon and back, showcasing the critical role of specialized local equipment in historic space exploration.Memphis Today

At least four pairs of specialty eclipse glasses manufactured by American Paper Optics in Bartlett, Tennessee traveled 695,081 miles from Earth to the moon and back as part of NASA's recent Artemis II manned mission. The astronauts used the glasses to safely view a total solar eclipse during their 10-day lunar flyby.

Why it matters

This is a remarkable feat for a small Memphis-area company, as the eclipse glasses are likely the objects with the farthest distance traveled that were touched by local hands. The successful use of the glasses during the Artemis II mission also highlights the critical role of specialized equipment in enabling historic space exploration.

The details

The four pairs of eclipse glasses were part of the equipment carried by the four Artemis II astronauts during their mission, which included a flyby of the moon. The astronauts used the glasses to safely view a total solar eclipse that occurred during their 10-day journey. In total, the glasses traveled 695,081 miles from the Earth to the moon and back.

  • The Artemis II mission launched in April 2026.
  • The astronauts used the eclipse glasses to view a total solar eclipse during their 10-day mission.

The players

American Paper Optics

A Bartlett, Tennessee-based company that manufactures specialty eclipse glasses and other optical products.

Artemis II Astronauts

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II manned mission to the moon, which included a flyby of the lunar surface.

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What they’re saying

“It's unlikely any other object touched by Memphis hands has ever traveled as far as those specialized glasses the astronauts used to view a total solar eclipse during their 10-day mission.”

— Jody Callahan, Author

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is a critical stepping stone towards NASA's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface, with the Artemis III mission planned to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2027.

The takeaway

The successful use of eclipse glasses manufactured by a small Memphis-area company during the historic Artemis II mission highlights the important role that specialized local businesses can play in enabling groundbreaking space exploration.