Long queues have formed outside a St Ives shop this morning as people make a last-minute dash for eclipse glasses.
The St Ives Techy, on Chapel View, Royal Square, is selling the special eyewear on a first come, first served basis, with demand high ahead of the celestial event. Similar scenes are playing out across the country as the UK gears up for a partial solar eclipse.
The shop said anyone hoping to buy the glasses today can collect them while stocks last. People reportedly travelled from as far as London to a store in Exeter yesterday to get their hands on a pair.
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By Scott Thomson, Press Association
On Wednesday, the UK will experience a partial solar eclipse, with the Moon obscuring more than 90% of the Sun.
The eclipse will happen between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, and is the fullest above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
Here, the Press Association looks at the safest ways to watch the cosmic phenomenon, because looking directly at the eclipse can pose severe health risks.
– Can I use sunglasses to watch the eclipse?
No, it is not safe to watch the eclipse using regular sunglasses. Only specialised eclipse glasses are safe to use.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), eclipse glasses are several thousand times darker than sunglasses, meaning they are safe for viewing the Sun.
If you have a pair of eclipse glasses, Nasa recommends inspecting them for damage before using and discarding the goggles if torn or scratched.
The organisation also says you should not use eclipse glasses while looking through binoculars, camera lenses, or any other optical device, as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the glasses’ filter and could cause eye injuries.
– What do I do if I cannot find eclipse glasses?
With so many looking to view the eclipse, glasses are in short supply.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has completely sold out of eclipse glasses while a viral social media clip from Tuesday evening showed queues around the block at one of the few remaining stores in London stocking the items.
If eclipse glasses are not available, Nasa suggests using indirect viewing methods. These do not involve looking directly at the Sun, but instead project the eclipse onto a nearby surface.
For example, a pinhole projector can be made using a box, aluminium foil and a white sheet of paper. By taping foil and paper to both ends of the box, then punching a hole in the foil, you can indirectly view the Sun shining through the hole onto the paper.
Solar eclipse frenzy as St Ives store sees huge queues for glasses