NEW YORK: Astronomy enthusiasts in the west of Britain were treated to the best views of a near-total solar eclipse, despite much of the rest of the country remaining covered by cloud.
Some wielded large telescopes, while others came prepared with low-tech alternatives fashioned from cardboard boxes, a bin and and even a colander.
In some areas, police officers handed out protective glasses to crowds of would-be eclipse spotters to ensure they watched it safely.
Looking directly at the sun for even a short amount of time can cause blindness.Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA) said: “A partial eclipse is more risky by far than a total eclipse because people don’t realise that even looking at a thin sliver of sun is dangerous … It’s absolutely true that there is a serious risk to people’s eyesight.”
Public Health England said that after the 1999 eclipse around 70 people suffered from vision loss, half of them reporting issues within 48 hours of the event.
