Astronomers reveal best way to watch the partial solar eclipse

Astronomers reveal best way to watch the partial solar eclipse The UK will see its fullest solar eclipse for the next 54 years on Wednesday but the public has been warned about the dangers that could come with the event Brits will be treated to a rare partial solar eclipse this week, where most of the sun will be blocked out by the moon. The UK's fullest solar eclipse for the next 54 years will take place on Wednesday. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12. This is the most it has been blocked above the UK since the total eclipse in 1999. The Met Office revealed the best places in the UK to see the cosmic phenomena were Devon, Cornwall and the west of Pembrokeshire. Other parts of the country will also be able to see the partial eclipse, with Plymouth forecast to see 94.66% coverage at 7.16pm. The rest of Wales, Northern Ireland, parts of the West Midlands and the South West, and the westernmost parts of Scotland can expect to see 92% to 94% solar coverage. Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, shared a key tip for people looking to view the rare phenomena. He said: "The eclipse is happening in the evening so it is pretty low on the horizon. What you really want is a nice clear flat horizon, so you just have an unobstructed view of the sun." Bloomer suggested people try to face west and move away from high-rise buildings which could obstruct views, although the astronomer acknowledged this could be difficult to do in a city. The astronomer warned people that the public needed to stay safe while attempting to view the partial eclipse, with the Royal Greenwich Observatory previously warning that regular sunglasses are not a safe method. He said: "It doesn't matter that most of the sun is covered, you can't look directly at it. t's too bright to look at, not even a glance. You really do need protective equipment to look at the sun. You can't just have a quick look at it and think that's ok." People can used solar eclipse glasses to view the sun while it is covered. Another method is using a colander and pointing it towards the sun with you back facing it, so the eclipse will be visible in the shadow of the kitchen item. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich will also be livestreaming the event. Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, said: "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." The next time the moon obscures as much of the sun will be in 2081 and the next total solar eclipse in the UK will be in 2090. Ms Bell advised getting to a vantage point facing west, with minimal buildings around, as the best way to view the eclipse. "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." Consumers have been warned against using "knock-off" glasses to watch Wednesday's eclipse as safety-approved options have have mostly sold out online. Experts warned that only special solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified for the safest eye protection should be used. Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse. Around 40% had looked at it for less than a minute. Mohamed Elalfy, a consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "Looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision. Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens. "Symptoms may only become apparent several hours later and can include blurred vision, a central blind or dark spot, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light. While some people recover over weeks or months, others can be left with permanent visual impairment." Reykjavik in Iceland and Spanish cities A Coruna, Oviedo, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Valencia will see a total eclipse on Wednesday, in which the moon fully obscures the sun.