UK residents can use three indirect methods to safely view the partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, Aug. 12 [2], [3].
These alternatives are critical because eclipse-viewing glasses are currently in short supply [4], [5]. Looking directly at the sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.
Sky News presenter Dan Whitehead said people can use pinhole projection to see the event. This method involves creating a small hole in a piece of card to project the image of the sun onto a flat surface.
Another safe option is using a kitchen colander. The small holes in the colander act as multiple pinholes, casting several crescent-shaped images of the eclipsed sun on the ground.
For those with photography equipment, attaching a professional solar filter to a camera lens is a third safe method. This allows the user to view the eclipse via the camera screen rather than looking directly at the sky.
This event is significant because it is the fullest solar eclipse visible in the UK for the next 54 years [1]. The partial eclipse is visible across various regions, including Berkshire.
While some reports suggest up to five different ways to view the event safely, Sky News and other outlets highlight these three primary methods [2], [6]. Each of these techniques ensures that the viewer does not look directly at the sun, mitigating the risk of retinal burns during the celestial event.
“Eclipse-viewing glasses are currently in short supply.”
The reliance on indirect viewing methods highlights a gap in the availability of certified safety equipment during high-interest astronomical events. Because this is a generational event for the UK, the push for DIY safety measures like pinhole projection is necessary to prevent a surge in ocular injuries among the general public.
