This evening, residents across the UK will have the chance to witness a rare partial solar eclipse, the most significant of its kind in the country since 1999. While many have sought out specialist eclipse glasses, supplies may be limited. Fortunately, there is a simple, safe way to observe the event using an everyday kitchen item that most households already own.
Authorities have issued cautions against looking directly at the sun without specialised eyewear, as doing so can cause serious and permanent eye damage. Regular sunglasses or dark goggles do not provide sufficient ultraviolet (UV) protection for solar viewing and are therefore unsafe.
The Royal Astronomical Society and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have emphasised the risks. The UKHSA explained that during an eclipse, the sun’s reduced brightness can trick the eye into gazing directly at it, overriding natural protective reflexes. This allows intense sunlight to damage the retina without causing immediate pain, meaning harm may go unnoticed until it is too late.
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To help viewers watch safely, one practical method is to use a colander-a common kitchen utensil typically used for draining pasta. By holding a colander up toward the sun with your back to it and projecting its patterned shadows onto a white surface like a sheet of paper or the ground, the small holes act as natural pinhole cameras. This projects multiple images of the partially eclipsed sun simultaneously, creating an impressive visual display without the need to look directly at the sun.
Consultant ophthalmologist David Jones of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust has shared this technique online, highlighting it as his favourite way to view a solar eclipse safely. He demonstrated placing a white sheet behind the colander to observe the multiple projected images.
The eclipse will be visible between 6pm and 8pm across the UK, with the greatest coverage occurring in the South West, where up to 95 per cent of the sun will be obscured by the moon. Londoners can expect approximately 90 per cent coverage.
For those fortunate enough to have specialist eclipse glasses, it is crucial to ensure they carry the safety certification ‘ISO 12312-2’ or ‘ISO 12312-2:2015’. Without this marking, the glasses cannot be considered safe for viewing the sun during the eclipse.
By following these precautions and using household items wisely, UK residents can safely enjoy this spectacular celestial event without risking damage to their eyesight.