People in the UK can watch tonight's partial solar eclipse safely using a household item they already own: a colander. Instead of straining pasta, holding the colander to the sun and looking away from it projects hundreds of images of the eclipse onto a surface, creating a kaleidoscope of the sun and its shadow.
Why specialist glasses are needed
The eclipse is the country's most significant since 1999, but Brits have been warned not to look directly at the sun without specialist glasses. The Royal Astronomical Society also warns that sunglasses and dark goggles are not safe because they often lack sufficient UV protection, and doing so could damage eyesight.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued advice on safe viewing, noting that permanent damage can occur within seconds if precautions are not taken. It warned: “During an eclipse, the sun appears dimmer than usual. This makes it easier to look at directly – and that's precisely the problem.
“The reduced brightness can override the body's natural reflex to look away, allowing intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina.
“This damage happens without causing any pain, so you may not realise harm is occurring until it's too late.”
How to use a colander to view the eclipse
Eye specialist David Jones, consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, explained online this is his favourite way of viewing an eclipse. He demonstrated by holding a blank piece of paper behind the colander.
Jones said: "If you hold the colander to the sun and you look away from the sun, protecting your eyes, you can make not just one picture of the sun but a hundred all at once."
When and where to see the eclipse
The UK's most dramatic partial solar eclipse in nearly three decades will be visible between 6pm and 8pm, depending on the area. Those in the South West will likely see the greatest proportion of the sun covered by the moon, with about 95 per cent covered. Londoners are expected to see about 90 per cent coverage.
If using specialist eclipse glasses, they must have the safety certification ‘ISO 12312-2' or ‘ISO 12312-2:2015’ printed on them; otherwise they cannot be deemed safe.
