Experts issue health warning to Brits over today's solar eclipse
Experts have issued a health warning to Brits ahead of today’s (8 April) solar eclipse.
A very rare event, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of Mexico, North America and Canada later on this Monday.
And while the UK won’t get to experience the full phenomenon, we’re still set for a partial eclipse. This spectacle occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, blocking some or all of its rays from reaching us.
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The last time a total solar eclipse occurred in Britain was way back in 1999 and the next one here isn’t expected until 23 September, 2090.
But hey, the partial eclipse will still be pretty cool to see – there’s just an important warning for if you’re hoping to have a good old look at it.
What time is the solar eclipse today in the UK?
If you’re in the west of the UK or Ireland, the best viewing time of the event will be between 7.52pm to 8.51pm.
Brits in Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, Cornwall, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds have a decent chance of seeing it, but you’ll need to be on high ground and have clear sky.
And you'll need to bring something else when you're viewing the eclipse.
How do I protect my eyes during a solar eclipse?
Experts warn that you should never look at an eclipse directly, even if it is just a partial one.
You should use solar eclipse glasses for viewing the spectacle because even just a percentage of the sun’s radiation can damage your eyes.
These glasses are different to sunglasses as they block damaging UV rays and block out all light entirely except from what’s coming from the Sun itself.
According to The Planetary Society, certified solar ellipse glasses are 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses.
What if I don't have special solar eclipse glasses?
While it is much safer to just use these specific glasses for the event, the BBC says you can try piercing a hole using a pin into one piece of paper.
It then says to stand with your back to the Sun, holding the paper above your shoulder so the rays shine through that tiny hole.
And then, hold up another piece of paper in front of you to act like a screen while the Sun’s rays project onto it.
Yeah, it won’t quite be the same as actually seeing the partial eclipse but again, you really can’t be looking at it without the glasses.
There will also be livestreams of the total eclipse in America available, so you could always see it that way too.
Jess Battison