SPECIALIST glasses have sold out at major retailers ahead of the best solar eclipse in decades.
More than 90% of the Sun will be obscured by the moon on Wednesday evening, the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
Convenience stores, national parks and the Royal Greenwich Observatory have all exhausted their glasses supplies ahead of the eclipse, which will be the country’s fullest for the next 54 years.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory told the Press Association it had sold approximately 15,000 pairs of eclipse glasses – a sellout – in the last month.
Meanwhile, consumers have been warned against using “knock-off” glasses to watch the event and eye doctors urged people to avoid looking directly at the sun, with even brief exposure causing lasting vision damage.
What time is the solar eclipse today?
The solar eclipse will take place between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on Wednesday, August 12.
The maximum point of coverage is expected to be at around 7.13pm.
Where to see the solar eclipse in Scotland
People in eastern areas of Scotland stand the best chance of seeing Wednesday’s partial solar eclipse, forecasters have said.
A weather front pushing into the north-west means the rare event is likely to be hidden behind clouds across much of Scotland – but forecasters have said it may be visible in some areas.
The Met Office said eastern areas like Aberdeenshire, Angus and Moray are most likely to have clear skies when the rare event takes place.
The forecaster said there may also be breaks in cloud cover in the central belt and southern Scotland.
Those most keen to catch a sight of the fullest possible solar eclipse should avoid the easternmost parts of the UK, where only 88% to 90% of solar coverage is expected.
These include the Aberdeenshire coast, as well as the Orkney and Shetland Islands.
How to watch the solar eclipse safely
Only special solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified for the safest eye protection should be used to view the eclipse and sunglasses are not sufficient, experts said.
Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse.
Around 40% had looked at it for less than a minute.
Mohamed Elalfy, a consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: “The safest way to enjoy the eclipse is to observe it indirectly, such as by watching a live broadcast.
“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.
“Symptoms may only become apparent several hours later and can include blurred vision, a central blind or dark spot, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light.
“While some people recover over weeks or months, others can be left with permanent visual impairment.”
The eclipse can also be viewed safely through a pinhole finder, by projecting the Sun's image onto paper using a pinhole projector, by holding up a colander and looking at its shadow, or by looking at the shadows cast by leaves on the ground.
Perseid meteor shower
In an added bonus for stargazers, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13, hours after the eclipse.
The shower is produced as Earth ploughs through a stream of dust left behind by Comet Swift–Tuttle.
Each tiny grain strikes Earth’s atmosphere at about 60 kilometres per second, burning up in a brief flash that takes the appearance of a shooting star.
