Hundreds of people across the UK are scrambling to get certified solar eclipse glasses ahead of Wednesday evening’s partial solar eclipse, with stocks selling out at shops and online stores.Long queues have been reported in London, Exeter, Wales and Kent, with some shoppers waiting for hours to secure the protective eyewear, The Sun reported. Several retailers have also reported their stocks disappearing within minutes.
Long queues as eclipse glasses sell out
At the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, customers were seen lining up for eclipse glasses, with only about 100 sets reportedly available. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is also hosting a sold-out eclipse event on Wednesday.In Wrexham, Wales, hundreds of people reportedly began queuing outside a shop from 7am, three hours before it opened. The store had stocked around 700 pairs over the previous week and a half.In Kent, cars reportedly lined the street outside Poppin’s Cozy Coffee Room in Leysdown from 6.30am, with all 95 pairs of glasses selling out within minutes.Toy retailer Howley’s Toymasters in Dorset, meanwhile, sent staff on a more than 150-mile trip to the Midlands to collect 10,000 pairs after its stocks sold out rapidly.
Experts warn against ordinary sunglasses
With certified eclipse glasses becoming difficult to find, eye specialists have warned people against using ordinary sunglasses, multiple pairs of sunglasses or unverified eclipse glasses.Experts say only purpose-built glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 safety standard should be used to look directly at the Sun.Looking directly at the Sun, even briefly, can cause retinal damage. The damage may not be immediately noticeable because the retina does not have pain receptors, with symptoms potentially appearing hours later.These can include blurred vision, a dark or blind spot in central vision, distorted vision, reduced colour perception and increased sensitivity to light.
Eclipse to cover over 90% of Sun
The partial solar eclipse on August 12 is expected to be visible across the UK from around 6.15pm, with the maximum eclipse occurring at roughly 7.05pm to 7.15pm.More than 90 per cent of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, making it the biggest solar eclipse visible from the UK since 1999.Experts have requested people who cannot obtain certified glasses to watch the event indirectly, including through live broadcasts or safe projection methods.Those using cameras, binoculars or telescopes have also been advised to ensure that proper approved solar filters are fitted before viewing the Sun.
Perseid meteor shower adds to sky show
The celestial spectacle will be followed by another treat for stargazers, as the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13.The meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle.Tiny particles enter the atmosphere at around 60 kilometres per second, burning up and creating brief streaks of light commonly known as shooting stars.
