Britons urged to use common kitchen utensil to watch nation's greatest solar eclipse in decades

Britons have been urged to use a common kitchen utensil to watch a solar eclipse set to leave Britain partially in shadow.

On August 12, more than 90 per cent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon for onlookers in Britain during the eclipse.

It marks the closest the UK has come to witnessing a total eclipse since 1999.

Now the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has advised the public to view the eclipse with special glasses - or, failing that, a colander.

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Viewers could watch the phenomenon "through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves", the health authority added.

To watch the remarkable event through a colander, This involves watching the shadow of the Moon travel across the Sun on the ground or a background such as a piece of white paper.

Robert Massey, the deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, told The Telegraph the best views of the eclipse will come in southwest England.

He said: "This will make the sky seem somewhat darker – though it will still look like daylight – and shadows will have the strange quality of crescents on tips of fingers, for example."

Mr Massey stressed that an eclipse is "still very dangerous to look at without eye protection, as the un-eclipsed part of the solar disk is still extremely bright".

He added: "For that reason it is best to use certified eclipse glasses bought from a reputable astronomical supplier. Total solar eclipses are much more spectacular than partial eclipses, but the event on August 12 is very much worth observing safely."

UKHSA also warned of uncertified eclipse glasses from online sellers.

Royal Museums Greenwich sells glasses which meet the international safety standard and is urging the public to place orders by August 5.

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Professor Lucie Green, a professor of physics at University College London and chief astronomer at the Society of Popular Astronomy, said the eclipse would be an "impressive spectacle".

She said: "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. 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."

After the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems from looking up, the UKHSA said.

In 40 per cent of those cases, eclipse-gazers had looked at the Sun for less than a minute.

Levels of totality will vary across Britain - those in Cornwall can expect more than 95 per cent coverage, compared with 93 per cent in Cardiff and 89 per cent in Aberdeen.

This year's eclipse will begin at 6.17pm for those in London, Bristol and Cardiff, with the greater eclipse expected at 7.13pm.

Northern Spain, Iceland and Greenland will experience a total solar eclipse, with holiday packages already being sold to coincide with the event.

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