I was born in 1999, so 12 August is my first chance to see a solar eclipse of this scale. Simply put, I don’t want to mess this up. And so, I’ve turned to an expert, Dr Greg Brown, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, for some tips, tricks and advice on how to make this eclipse as easy, stress-free and memorable for myself as possible. Here’s what he told me.
To be totally frank, I was starting from a place of little-to-no knowledge on what precisely an eclipse is and how to watch one, having not really considered the phenomenon since sitting my Double Science GCSE about twelve years ago. Luckily, that’s where the good doctor comes in.
Dr Brown explains: “A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun from the point of view of an observer here on Earth. The moon blocks some portion of the light from the sun, making it look rather like a bite has been taken out of it.” During this eclipse, around 90 per cent of the sun will be covered by the moon in the most total eclipse since 1999.
Now the important part. It was news to me (unsurprisingly) that one shouldn’t be watching an eclipse without eye protection. In fact, it can be really quite dangerous to do so.
Why are glasses essential for the solar eclipse?
Dr Brown urges: “Looking at the sun without protection for any length of time can be very harmful to our eyes. The intense light and ultraviolet radiation can cause damage to the retina, possibly resulting in permanently impaired vision and even blindness. Even during a partial eclipse, the light of the Sun is still too bright to be safe.”
The answer then? The best solar eclipse glasses. And while it might feel like you could easily swap these in for your go-to Ray-Bans, Dr Brown warns, Dr Brown says to “not under any circumstances use ordinary sunglasses – not only do these not provide the necessary protection from the sun’s light, but the little light that they do block will make viewing the sun feel more comfortable even while the risk is still very much present.
What features do solar eclipse glasses have?
“The glasses you use must comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Glasses that have reached this safety standard will have the ISO standard printed on them, and they will have a manufacturer’s report showing their compliance based on rigorous testing. They must also be free of any perforations or folds in the silvered lenses, as any damage to them risks making them unsafe to use.
Solar eclipse glasses have a special silver filter that blocks all but one part in 100,000 of the sun’s light, with some transmitting even less than that. They also specifically reduce the ultraviolet radiation down to safe levels, making the light of the sun safe to observe,” Dr Brown explains.
While all that silver filter jargon is sounding like it might be accompanied by a pretty hefty price tag, don’t worry, a decent pair of eye protection in this case needn’t break the bank. Amazon’s solar eclipse glasses options all cost less than £30, but won’t arrive in time for the rare phenomenon.
Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, luckily has some alternative to advice.
How else can you watch the solar eclipse safely?
“If you don't have a pair of eclipse glasses, you can still view the eclipse indirectly,” he explains.
“Any household item with small round holes in it, such as a colander or even a piece of paper with a small hole poked in it, can project an image of the eclipse onto a flat surface.” But he similarly urges, “Don't look at the sun itself, but instead at the shadow that's being produced; you should be able to see the shape of the eclipse within it.”
So, if you’ve missed out on the solar eclipse glasses below, don’t fret and grab a colander.
Where to buy solar eclipse glasses in the UK
Orro eclipse glasses certified protection: £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
The true value-for-money option, these glasses come in a pack of four. Easily wearable and reminiscent of the 3D specs handed out in the cinemas of the 2010s, do not be fooled by the casual design of these frames; designed to conform to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 demands for direct solar observation filters, these black polymer solar filter lenses block ultraviolet and infrared radiation and filter 99.999 per cent of visible light.
Absolute Eclipse Solar Eclipse Fit-Over Glasses: £22.85, Amazon.co.uk
Ideal for glasses-wearers, these Absolute Eclipse glasses fit comfortably over prescription glasses for an extra layer of protection without having to remove your own everyday frames. Plus, there’s no escaping the fact that the futuristic, oversized shape is an undeniably cool alternative to its more casual, disposable counterparts.
Read more: Solar eclipse 2026 – exact times it will happen in London and how to watch it safely
