Getty ImagesWith most online orders not able to arrive in time and shops running out of stock, it may be too late to buy eclipse glasses for Wednesday evening.
But you can still safely watch the spectacle using some household items.
People in the UK will see a partial eclipse – rather than the total eclipse that will be seen in parts of Spain, Greenland and Iceland – but it is the country’s most significant eclipse since 1999.
Experts say enthusiasts should not look directly at the Sun without specialist glasses.
They often don’t give enough UV protection when looking directly at the Sun and you could end up seriously damaging your eyesight, according to The Royal Astronomical Society.
Here are some viewing methods to try instead.
Pinhole projector – card, paper and pen
The astronomy group suggests creating a pinhole projector, which can be done by making a hole in a piece of card. You can use the tip of a ballpoint pen to push through the centre of it.
Holding the card in one hand and a blank piece of paper in the other, face away from the Sun.
Then line the card and paper up so that an image of the Sun becomes visible on the paper.
This pinhole projector will show you the shadow being cast on the Sun replicated in miniature.
Colander – find one in the kitchen
Instead of straining vegetables and pasta, you can use a colander to achieve a similar effect to that of the pinhole projector.
Eye specialist David Jones, consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, says this is his favourite way of witnessing an eclipse.
“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.”
Demonstrating the technique in a video on social media, he clutches a blank piece of paper behind the colander he is holding up.
It creates a kaleidoscope of images showing the Sun and the shadow cast on it during the eclipse.
Pinhole viewer – cardboard box, foil, paper
An empty cereal box is ideal for making a pinhole viewer. It works similarly to the projector but should provide a clearer image.
This is because the cardboard box blocks out the surrounding sunshine and allows in only light from the direction of the eclipse.
Cut out a piece of paper that fits the bottom of the box. Open the top of the box and tape the cutout to the bottom. This will be the screen on which you see the eclipse.
Close the box and tape it shut. On one half of the top of it, cut out a small square so you can see the paper at the bottom with one eye.
On the other half, cut out another small square to match. Cut out a piece of foil that is large enough to cover this square.
Tape it down over the square and use a pin or needle to poke a hole in the middle of the foil.
Standing with your back to the Sun, use one eye to look through the open square.
Once you’ve lined up the hole in the foil with the Sun, you should see an image of it on the screen at the bottom. This is where you’ll see the eclipse too.
Can I not use my phone?
You might be tempted to watch or film the eclipse using your mobile phone, either by pointing it at the Sun or taking a selfie video, but Nasa advises against this.
“To take images when the Sun is partially eclipsed, you’ll need to use a special solar filter to protect your camera, just as you’ll need a pair of solar viewing glasses (also called eclipse glasses) to protect your eyes.”
They also say sensors in your phone could be damaged if pointed directly at the Sun.
“This is especially true if you’re using any sort of magnifying lens attachment on the phone.”
When the partial eclipse becomes visible in the UK and mainland Europe on Wednesday, it will be in the evening so it will take place low in the sky.
For a better view, the Royal Astronomical Society advises you try standing somewhere more elevated than the area around you “with a clear view of the western horizon”.
Whatever you do, don’t look directly at the Sun.
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