With special solar eclipse glasses sold out almost everywhere in Lancashire, you may need to get creative to watch this historic event safely.
More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on Wednesday, the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
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.
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
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.
So here’s your step by step guide to making your very own pinhole camera.
9. Step 7: Place a sheet of paper inside the box on the opposite side of your cut out
As demonstrated here with my glamorous assistant (who kept trying to sit in the box), place a sheet of white paper or card inside the box at the opposite end of your cut out. | The Scotsman
10. Step 8: Secure the paper with tape
Once you have placed the paper to your liking, secure it with tape. | The Scotsman
11. Step 9: Test your DIY pinhole projector
Once you have completed the steps, you can test out your projector. Holding the box upside down, face the pinhole side towards the sun and look at the sheet of paper inside the box. You should be able to see an outline of the sun. | The Scotsman
12. Step 10: Profit
With all the steps complete you now have a safe way to view the 2026 solar eclipse — even without solar glasses. Don’t look directly towards the sun, but enjoy the view from inside your handmade pinhole projector. | The Scotsman