UK Braces for Partial Solar Eclipse Amid Vision Damage Warnings
Public urged to exercise extreme caution as safe viewing equipment remains scarce ahead of Wednesday's celestial event.
Sarah Connor
A partial solar eclipse will sweep across the UK tomorrow, prompting urgent warnings about irreversible vision damage.
Customers across central London struggle to purchase them, facing high demand and sold-out stock.
Online, pairs of eclipse glasses meeting safety specifications are all but sold out; available options demand high delivery fees or will not arrive on time.
Peter Friend stated his organization bought 80 pairs of specialist glasses, all snapped up within 10 minutes.
Friend also claims many businesses ordered glasses which failed to arrive on time.
Experts warn that so-called eclipse glasses lacking safety standards, or ordinary sunglasses, should never be worn to view an eclipse.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich states regular sunglasses do not provide a safe enough method to view the cosmic phenomenon.
Ordinary sunglasses, binoculars, telescopes, and cameras do not provide adequate protection unless fitted with an appropriate, professional solar filter.
Kyla Black claims DIY filters and pinhole projectors made from household items like cereal boxes can also be dangerous.
Black further claims objects such as smoked glass, color film, floppy disks, X-ray film, and dark sunglasses are unable to block invisible infrared and ultraviolet rays.
Kyla Black indicated that Objects such as smoked glass, color film, floppy disks, X-ray film, and dark sunglasses are unable to block invisible infrared and ultraviolet rays.
A common myth suggests wearing multiple pairs of sunglasses can protect against harmful UV light; safety guidelines do not support this claim.
Indirect viewing methods, such as using a kitchen colander to project an image of the sun, are understood to be safe.
A number of associated events are reportedly being held across Devon and Cornwall for those seeking alternative ways to experience the eclipse.