Astronomer shares vital safety advice ahead of rare solar eclipse
The most significant solar eclipse since 1999 is set to dazzle the UK and parts of Europe
Last updated 12th Aug 2026
As millions of people prepare to watch one of the UK's biggest solar eclipses in decades, a Northampton astronomer is urging skygazers not to put their eyesight at risk.
From 6pm, the Moon will begin to move across the Sun, creating a partial solar eclipse visible across the UK.
At its peak, around 90% of the Sun will be obscured from London, while parts of Cornwall could see up to 95% coverage, making it the deepest eclipse visible from Britain since the total solar eclipse of 1999.
Dr Nick Hewitt, chairman of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society's Astronomy Section and a former president of the British Astronomical Association, said the event is a particularly impressive one for UK observers.
"This is a particularly good partial from this country because very much of the Sun is going to be covered."
"It's probably the greatest of nature's spectacles."
Although partial eclipses occur relatively often, Dr Hewitt said it is unusual to see so much of the Sun covered from the UK.
"This is a particularly good partial from this country because very much of the Sun is going to be covered," he said.
Hewitt also said people may notice the daylight changing as the eclipse reaches its peak.
"The light often has an eerie quality, a slightly unreal quality to it as the Sun gets very, very narrowed."
He added that while the event is not particularly important for scientific research, it remains a valuable opportunity to inspire interest in astronomy.
"It's worth it in its own right to stimulate interest in how the solar system works."
Protecting your eyesight
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, Dr Hewitt stressed that viewing it safely should be the priority.
"It's very, very important not to view this eclipse directly and certainly not with binoculars or telescopes unless you're an expert."
He warned that ordinary sunglasses do not provide enough protection and should never be used to view an eclipse.
"I would say you must not use ordinary sunglasses. They have to be special sunglasses."
The astronomer also cautioned against using binoculars.
"You just swing your binoculars towards the Sun and you won't see anything else for the rest of your life, probably."
"Any amount of the Sun, even the tiniest bit of the Sun, can damage your eyes."
Warning that cloud cover can create a false sense of security, Dr Hewitt said: "You just do not want to risk your eyesight for a partial, or for any eclipse. It just mustn't be done."
A kitchen utensil with a surprising use
For those unable to get hold of eclipse glasses, Dr Hewitt recommends indirect viewing methods.
One option involves using a kitchen colander to project images of the Sun onto a sheet of paper or card.
"All the holes in the colander act like a small pinhole camera."
"That's a very safe way of watching the progress of it without any danger of risking your eyesight."
He said the method creates multiple images of the eclipsed Sun, allowing people to follow the event without looking directly at it.
Inspiring the next generation of skywatchers
Dr Hewitt hopes the eclipse will encourage more people, particularly young people, to develop an interest in astronomy, describing it as a ''fantastic hobby.''
He encouraged aspiring astronomers to join local astronomy societies, read about the subject and make the most of opportunities to observe future celestial events.
"If you really want to start following eclipses and you're a youngster, of course, you can start planning eclipses for years ahead."
He added:"There are other things to see in the night sky. Looking at the planets is always fun. Looking at the deep sky, galaxies and star clusters is a lovely thing to do."