What it is advisable to see the eclipse with out glasses – kitchen colander to telephone digicam

Britain will witness its most complete solar eclipse for the next 54 years today – and we have collated the safest method to observe it without harming your vision.

Over 90% of the Sun will be concealed by the Moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12, the biggest coverage in British since the total eclipse of 1999. Many will assume donning sunglasses represents the safest approach to witness this extraordinary event, but some shades might not offer adequate protection.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory has cautioned the public that sunglasses aren’t a sufficiently safe method to observe the celestial spectacle. Viewing a solar eclipse poses risks, according to the government website, because the Sun appears fainter than normal, tempting people to gaze at it directly. However, this can result in vision damage.

Watch the ellipse using a colander

Ordinary sunglasses don’t offer sufficient protection, so astronomy enthusiasts will need to acquire a pair meeting international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E) while stocks last. And oddly, one kitchen utensil could prove superior… the trusty colander. Just don’t look at the sun through the colander because you will hurt yourself.

Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, told the Press Association: “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time.

“So it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared. You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes.

“So you can use solar eclipse glasses, which are very, very different from sunglasses – they block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the Sun, because that’s how much light they need to block for the damaging light of the Sun to be safe to view.

“Ideally a solar telescope is an amazing way to witness it, and if you don’t have one of them then you can look into whether your local astronomy society is doing any events.

“And if all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander which has lots of holes in – point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.”

To watch the eclipse with the household item Brits will need to place a sheet of paper on the ground then hold the out colander with their back to the Sun. This will allow the sunlight to shine through the holes and onto the sheet. During the eclipse each of the small hole will project an individual crescent Sun allowing for people to watch the cosmic event without any fancy gear.

Protect your phone

Phone cameras and many digital cameras can’t always completely capture the full picture of the sun, even during a solar eclipse. This is because the brightness of the sun is usually too much for camera sensors to handle. Attempting to film the eclipse without proper camera equipment can permanently damage the sensors in your camera.

One easy solution could be to equip your phone or digital camera with a physical lens filter that helps to reduce brightness going into the sensor. This will allow Brits to snap a pic of the eclipse while it a happens.

The Absolute Eclipse Solar Filter Sheet is specially designed to go over telescopes, binoculars, and cameras. It is ISO certified from independent testing, ensuring that it’s suitable to effectively block out enough light to prevent damage.

Overall, the film blocks 99.9997% of visible light and comes in three sizes out of the box. Users can cut down the sheets provided to ensure they properly fit whatever device they stick them onto.

The next time the Moon will obscure this much of the Sun is estimated to be in 2081. And the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK won’t happen until 2090. Peak coverage is anticipated at approximately 7.13pm today. Ms Bell recommended finding an elevated spot facing west, with few buildings nearby, as the optimal way to observe the eclipse.

Bell stated: “We might notice the sky getting a little bit dark, so if you’re looking safely, it’ll look a bit like the Moon is taking a bite out of the Sun, you’ll see something that looks a bit like a crescent Sun.”

She added: “It’ll be a nice, long event which is really exciting. The Sun’s going to be really quite close to the horizon because it will be setting at that point towards the western horizon.

“So it’s really important that viewers from the UK find a good view of the western horizon and make sure their view of the Sun isn’t blocked by any buildings or hills.”

A man who injured his eyes during a previous eclipse has warned Brits about the vision issues he faces. The man damaged his vision due to him attempting to watch an eclipse without the appropriate eyewear. Peter Smith, from Taunton, watched the solar eclipse 27 years ago and attempted to use a welder’s mask to protect his eyes from the sun’s rays.

Smith said: “Make sure its got the right protection and filters to stop any damage because any damage you get, it’ll never heal. It’s not like cutting your hand.”

He added: “Even now there is a residual impact. When I’m tired sometimes a flashing dot might come back, and it’s not nice when it does.

“If you’re going to go and watch it, make sure that everything you’ve got is correct.”

NOTE: If you do go blind, don’t blame the Daily Star!