Remember To Take Precautions If Watching The Solar Eclipse

Experts have issued warning about the danger of looking at the sun during solar eclipse that takes place at rush hour.

19:41 17 March 2015

As a near total eclipse is expected to happen in the skies above Britain this week, experts have warned about the danger of looking at the sun during the event without using protection. 

 

The eclipse will begin around 8.30am on Friday and will last for two hours as the moon moves in front of the sun. 

 

Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Soceity for Popular Astronomy (SPA), said: "Unlike every other eclipse of any size, this one takes place right in the middle of the rush hour. It's not the best time from a safety point of view.”

 

"We've always had this problem with partial eclipses in particular. You need to cut down the light of the Sun by an enormous amount before you can look at it safely.

 

"Sunglasses are useless and even things like food packing and bin liners that look as if they're made of dense material can let through infrared light and burn your retina.

 

"A partial eclipse is more risky by far than a total eclipse because people don't realise that even looking at a thin sliver of Sun is dangerous.

 

"It's absolutely true that there is a serious risk to people's eyesight.

 

"If people can't find a way to view the eclipse correctly then they shouldn't look because they're likely to damage their eyes."