How to use a colander to watch the solar eclipse safely without glasses today

ONE of the celestial spectacles of the century takes place later today, but with shops around the UK running out of eclipse glasses many people are looking for alternatives. Thankfully, you most probably have everything you need to view the solar eclipse safely sitting in a kitchen cupboard. You can use a kitchen colander to view the solar eclipse Credit: Getty The Moon is set to cover between 90% and 96% of the Sun at maximum eclipse in the UK How to watch the eclipse using a colander You don’t need to build or buy anything to enjoy tonight’s eclipse safely (and you definitely shouldn’t try to make your own eclipse glasses) – you just need a rummage around the kitchen. The UK Health Security Agency says “you can watch the eclipse indirectly without any specialist equipment at all”, listing safe options including “viewing the Sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves”. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! Lucie Green, professor of physics at University College London and chief astronomer at the Society of Popular Astronomy, called the eclipse an “impressive spectacle” and said the kitchen offers the simplest solution of all. She explained: “You can also have a bit of fun in trying to view the solar eclipse, and use something like a steamer that’s got holes in the bottom. read more on the solar eclipse “You might have a colander in your kitchen, and this can be used to create a projected image of the Sun. “Stand with your back to the Sun and let the sunlight pass through the colander, and on the ground you’ll notice beautiful images of the crescent Sun.” Lay a sheet of white card or paper on the ground first, stand with your back to the Sun and hold the colander so the light passes through its holes onto the card. Every hole acts as its own tiny projector, so a single colander throws down dozens of crescent Suns at once. Most read in Tech This Met Office Map shows what time maximum eclipse will take place around the UK, and what percentage of the Sun will be covered by the Moon Cambridge astronomer Paul Fellows agrees it is the easiest fallback going. He said: “You can get eclipse glasses with super-dark film that will protect your eyes, but if you don’t have any then the best answer is to project the image onto a piece of white card, through a pinhole in another card – or just grab a colander from the kitchen. “All the little holes will throw an image into its shadow that will let you see what’s going on!” The one method that needs nothing at all is a tree. You can simply stand under a leafy one and look at the shadows on the ground, where the spaces between leaves act as natural pinholes. The golden rule with all of these is that you project the Sun rather than look at it – never glance up through the holes or gaps, even for a moment. Even the crescent Sun is still very dangerous to look at without eye protection, as the exposed part of the solar disk is still very bright. Mohamed Elalfy, a consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: “Looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision. “Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens.” Depending on where you are in the UK, the Moon will start to pass the Sun at around 6.15pm this evening, with the maximum eclipse roughly an hour later between 7.05pm and 7.15pm, and the event finishing just after 8pm. But the Sun will already be low in the western sky, so you will need a clear, unobstructed view towards the horizon. Comment now