The Colander Eclipse: How a Simple Kitchen Tool Can Safely Reveal the Sky’s Rarest Spectacle

On Wednesday evening, the United Kingdom will experience its most complete solar eclipse in over half a century. But while the celestial event promises a rare moment of wonder, the Royal Greenwich Observatory has issued a stark warning: do not look directly at the Sun, even with sunglasses. Instead, the safest and most accessible method for home viewing involves an item many of us already have in our kitchen cupboards: a colander.

Between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12, more than 90 per cent of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon. This marks the most significant solar blockage visible from UK skies since the total eclipse of 1999. The next occasion of comparable magnitude will not occur until 2081, while the next total solar eclipse visible from Britain is not expected until 2090. For a generation, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Why Sunglasses Are Not Enough

Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, explained the dangers of casual observation. “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90 per cent is really exciting,” she told the Press Association. “We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time. So it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared. You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes.”

Bell emphasised that solar eclipse glasses are fundamentally different from ordinary sunglasses. “They block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the Sun, because that’s how much light they need to block for the damaging light of the Sun to be safe to view.” For those without such equipment, she recommends a simple alternative: “If all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander which has lots of holes in. Point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.”

When and Where to Watch

The peak moment of coverage is expected at approximately 7.13pm. Bell advises finding a vantage point facing west, with minimal obstructions from buildings or hills. “We might notice the sky getting a little bit dark,” she said. “If you’re looking safely, it’ll look a bit like the Moon is taking a bite out of the Sun. You’ll see something that looks a bit like a crescent Sun. It’ll be a nice, long event which is really exciting. The Sun’s going to be really quite close to the horizon because it will be setting at that point towards the western horizon. So it’s really important that viewers from the UK find a good view of the western horizon and make sure their view of the Sun isn’t blocked by any buildings or hills.”

The Met Office has provided an encouraging forecast. A spokesperson stated: “With clear skies forecast across much of the UK, conditions should be more or less perfect for many to experience the partial solar eclipse. The north and west of the country are most likely to struggle with cloud cover when viewing the eclipse on Wednesday evening, particularly across Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The rest of Scotland and northern England may also see a good deal of high-level cloud, making skies rather hazy. The best opportunities for viewing the eclipse are likely to be south of a line from Aberystwyth to Lincoln.”

A Civic Act of Shared Wonder

This eclipse is not merely a scientific curiosity; it is a rare moment of collective experience that transcends the usual divisions of British public life. In an era of political polarisation and digital fragmentation, the simple act of stepping outside to watch the Moon cross the Sun can remind us of our shared humanity. It is a civic act of wonder, one that requires no expensive equipment, no partisan allegiance, and no special expertise. Just a colander, a clear sky, and a willingness to look up.

For those in Reykjavik, Iceland, and the Spanish cities of A Coruña, Oviedo, Zaragoza, Bilbao, and Valencia, the spectacle will be even more dramatic: a total eclipse, during which the Moon will completely obscure the Sun. But for the rest of us, the partial eclipse remains a powerful reminder of the cosmos we inhabit together.

As Bell concluded, “It’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared.” With a colander from your kitchen cupboard, you can do exactly that.