Partial Solar
Eclipse

Safety: Use appropriate equipment to view the sun

Looking directly at the Sun, even for a short time, can damage your eyesight. As viewed from Guernsey, part of the Sun will remain visible throughout the eclipse, so there will not be any safe time to view the eclipse directly. However there are some safe, simple ways to view the partial eclipse.

• Purchase eclipse glasses from a reputable supplier. Glasses should meet the requirements for ISO 12312-2 and have been manufactured since 2015. These will reduce sunlight intensity by 99.999% as well as safely filtering ultraviolet and infrared light. Ensure they're not scratched or torn before use. For recommended retailers, see the UK Eclipse Website. We will also have limited supplies of eclipse glasses available to provide to visitors:
  • At the Observatory on our Tuesday evening meetings from 8pm.
  • Nature Guernsey Family Event at Pleinmont, 9:00 - 13:00, Sunday 26^th July.
• You can also use projection methods: “Pin-hole” projections can be formed with your fingers in a lattice, or with a small hole in paper or card, or through items such as colanders, to safely project the Sun's crescent shape onto a surface. You may also notice unusual looking crescent-shaped dappled sunlight in the shadows of trees.
• Binoculars can project an image of the Sun, but you must never look directly through the binoculars at the Sun without a safe and secure solar filter.
• Solar filters for binoculars, telescopes and cameras can be made using Baader AstroSolar® Safety Film OD 5.0, which can be purchased at relatively low cost, and includes instructions for use.