It’s important to ensure you’re taking the proper precautions to view this event safely.
Even during a partial eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye as it can cause eye damage, including blindness.
Solar eclipse glasses are specifically designed to filter out harmful UV rays and reduce the intense brightness of the Sun, making it safe to look directly at the eclipse.
Normal sunglasses won’t work because they don’t block enough light to protect your eyes from the Sun’s extreme intensity.
“If you blocked as much sunlight with your sunglasses as eclipse glasses do, you wouldn’t be able to see where you were going!” said Miss Gammon-Ross.
If you don’t have access to eclipse glasses, you can create a simple pinhole camera with just two sheets of cardboard or even use a colander to project the Sun’s image safely onto the ground.
Local astronomical societies may host eclipse events with telescopes fitted with solar filters.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich will be hosting a live stream of the March 2025 solar eclipse, allowing viewers across the UK to experience the event online in real-time.
Looking at the Sun without protection can cause permanent retinal damage and blindness, even after just a few seconds of exposure.
