People across Scotland are struggling to find protective eyewear for Wednesday evening's solar eclipse, which will see up to 95% of the Sun disappear behind the Moon. This marks the most dramatic partial eclipse visible from the UK since August 1999.
Most high street stores have sold out of eclipse glasses, and online orders risk not arriving in time for the event, which is expected to last about two hours, starting around 18:00 in Scotland. Specsavers has stated they are not stocking the glasses, citing sustainability concerns for a single-use item. Jessops, a specialised photography retailer, has also sold out, with staff noting they had been in stock for several months.
It is crucial never to look directly at the Sun, as even brief exposure can cause lasting damage to the retina and lead to vision problems. Legitimate eclipse glasses will have safety certification ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015 printed on them. Regular sunglasses do not offer adequate protection.
For those without certified glasses, alternative viewing methods include making a pinhole projector or using a colander. Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans suggests using any household object with small holes to project an indirect image of the Sun onto a surface. Care should also be taken when photographing the eclipse, as the Sun can damage phone cameras.