How to observe

an eclipse safely

Solar eclipse, October 2014, by Leman Northway

SOLAR ECLIPSE:
20 MARCH 2015

Introduction

On Friday 20 March 2015, the

whole of the UK will be treated to
SOLAR ECLIPSE:
a partial eclipse of the Sun. These
20 MARCH 2015
are quite rare, and this one will be
a major event. That morning, the
Moon will pass right in front of the Sun, blotting
out up to 90% of its disc. The Sun will look like a
crescent instead of a disc, and therell be various
other things to look for.
However, it is extremely dangerous to just go
out and look up. The Sun is so bright that just
looking at it can blind you, so youll need to
prepare beforehand. There are various ways to
observe it safely, using both everyday materials
and telescopes or binoculars. So read this leaflet
to find out what will happen and how you can
see all the stages of the event.

The Royal Astronomical

Society, founded in
1820, encourages and
promotes the study of
astronomy, solar-system
science, geophysics and
closely related branches
of science.
www.ras.org.uk

The Society for Popular

Astronomy is for
beginners of all ages. Our
aim is to make astronomy
fun, and our magazine,
Popular Astronomy, is full
of information to help
you get to know the
sky and get involved. We even have a special Young
Stargazers section, run by TVs Lucie Green.
www.popastro.com

Formed in 1890, the

British Astronomical
Association has an
international reputation
for the quality of
its observational
and scientific work.
Membership is open to
all persons interested in
astronomy.
www.britastro.org

Designed by Paul Johnson: higgs-boson.com

This booklet was written by the Royal Astronomical Society with The Society for Popular Astronomy
and is endorsed by theBritish Astronomical Association

1: What is a solar eclipse?

plane as Earths orbit around the Sun, total

When the Sun goes out
solar eclipses would happen every month.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
However, as is often the case with science,
comes between the Sun and the Earth and
things are a little more complex than that,
casts a shadow on Earth. Anyone within a
certain area will see the Moon cross in front because the Moons orbit around the Earth
is tilted compared with the Earths orbit
of the Sun. In a very narrow band across
around the Sun, and both orbits are
the Earths surface, the Moon passes
squashed into an ellipse. So for an
centrally in front of the Suns disc,
Youll
eclipse to occur, the Moon has to be
completely blotting it out for a few
remember it
in the right place at the right time.
minutes. Over a much wider area,
for the rest of
Because the Moon is smaller
which on 20 March 2015 includes
your life
than Earth, its shadow during an
the whole of the UK, the Sun is
eclipse covers only part of Earths
only partially covered by the Moon.
surface. So although there are always at
Its not as spectacular, but its a great thing
least two solar eclipses a year, from any one
to watch, and something youll remember
spot you usually see a solar eclipse only
for the rest of your life. Lets hope its clear
every few years, usually a partial eclipse,
on 20 March!
though it may be total elsewhere. See the
Solar eclipses do not happen very often
box on forthcoming eclipses (If you miss
because the conditions are quite specific.
this one) for more information.
If the orbit of the Moon was in the same

total eclipse (umbra)

partial eclipse (penumbra)

Sun

Moon

Earth

How a solar eclipse works

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun and blocks out the
light from the Sun. As the Earth and the Moon continue to move in relation to the Sun, the area of
the total eclipse moves across the surface of the Earth. Thus the eclipse can be seen at different
times from different parts of the world. (Note that the diagram above is not to scale.)

Did You Know?

The last total solar eclipse visible from the UK
was in 1999, when thousands of people flocked
to Cornwall to catch a glimpse. But for most of
them it was cloudy. Just a few places saw the
event through a break in the clouds.

What is a solar
eclipse? (cont.)

Solar eclipse buzz words

First contact The moment when the
Moon first starts to block the Sun and the
first small bite appears in the edge of the
Sun.
Second contact The moment during a
total eclipse when the Sun is completely
covered by the Moon.
Totality The period of time (usually a few
minutes) in a total eclipse after second
contact when the Sun is completely
blocked by the Moon and a small part of
the Earth is in full shadow.
Partial phase The period of time when
only a section of the Sun is blocked by the
Moon. In the UK none of us will see the
Sun completely covered, so the eclipse
will be partial throughout.
Third contact The moment in a total
eclipse when the Sun reappears from
behind the Moon.
Fourth contact The moment when the
Sun is completely uncovered again.
Photosphere The visible surface of
the Sun. As the Sun is gaseous, this is

not a solid surface but is actually a layer

about 500km thick, which is very thin
seeing as the Sun is 1,391,684km across.
The photosphere is completely covered
during the total eclipse.
Chromosphere Above the photosphere
is a pink-red layer of gas, about 2500km
thick, known as the chromosphere.
During totality it is possible to see the
chromosphere in detail, as a ring around
the darkness of the Moons silhouette.
Bailys Beads Because the edges of the
Moon are not perfectly smooth, at the
start and end of totality some sunlight
shines through the valleys between
mountains, with the appearance of beads.
These are called Bailys Beads after the
scientist Francis Baily.
Diamond Ring During a total eclipse,
if only one of Bailys Beads is shining, a
Diamond Ring effect can be seen around
the lunar silhouette.
Annular eclipse This occurs when the
Moons disc is smaller than the Suns, so
the Sun is not fully covered.

If you miss this one

Here is a list of eclipses coming up in the next 15 years visible from the UK.
All are partial as seen from the UK.
date and time of
% coverage from
maximum eclipse
centre of UK
20 March 2015 09:31
88
21 August 2017 19:03
4
10 June 2021 10:12
23
25 October 2022 09:57
16
29 March 2025 11:03
33
12 August 2026 18:11
91
2 August 2027 08:59
38
26 January 2028 16:47
46
1 June 2030 05:23
45

comments
total from N. Atlantic
total from USA
annular from Siberia and Canada
partial only
partial only
total from N. Atlantic and Spain
total from N. Africa
annular from S. America and Spain
annular from Mediterranean

2: What youll see

eclipse the Sun will look like a crescent.

Safety first
Because it will be a partial eclipse in the UK,
Remember, you can only view the eclipse
using suitable filters or projection methods we will not be able to view Bailys Beads or
the Diamond Ring effect. Daytime will not
see section 3.
turn into night time, but it will still certainly
There are so many special features
be quite a spectacle.
associated with solar eclipses because each
The eclipse begins with first contact. You
one is unique due to weather conditions,
cant see details on the disc of the Moon,
location and several other factors. But, once
or the whole of the disc, during a partial
youve seen one, youll be smitten!
eclipse all you see is that a bit of the bright
The next total solar eclipse will take
Sun is missing. It may take a minute or so
place on Friday 20 March 2015. Totality
before you notice it.
only occurs in a narrow path across
Youll
The Moon continues to move
the surface of the Earth and the
have
to
wait
ever so slowly across the Sun until
only land in its path will be the
until 2090 to see
after 70 minutes (on this occasion)
Faroe Islands and Svalbard. The
a
total
eclipse
it has reached its maximum, and
maximum point of totality is in
from mainland
the Sun will appear as quite a thin
the North Atlantic, about 700km
UK
crescent. The exact timings depend
north of Shetland, where totality
on where you are in the UK. Then the
will last 2minutes and 47seconds
Moon moves off again, and after another
at 9:45a.m. GMT. If you are viewing the
70 minutes its all over, with fourth contact.
eclipse in the Faroe Islands, totality is
What happened to second and third
shorter, but it will go dark (like twilight) in
contacts? They only apply during a total
the morning for more than two minutes.
eclipse, which we wont see this time. Youll
Away from the path of totality, the same
either have to travel abroad or wait until
eclipse will be a partial solar eclipse of
2090 to see a total eclipse from mainland
varying degrees, visible across a region
UK.
thousands of kilometres wide. If you live in
Europe you will witness a partial eclipse of
Things to look for
6095% coverage of the Sun by the Moon.
This wont be a total eclipse, which would
The further north you are located, the more
give amazing views of the Suns outer
of the Sun will be obscured.
atmosphere (the corona) and maybe
All of the UK will witness a partial
prominences, which look like flames
eclipse of over 80% and, if the weather is
around the edge of the Sun. During totality,
favourable, at the maximum point of the

When to look
Exact timings vary by a few minutes within the UK, but from the
centre of the country the timings are:
event
time (GMT) direction Suns altitude
first contact
08:26
ESE
19
maximum eclipse (89%)
09:31
SE
27
fourth contact
10:41
SSE
34
The events are earlier the further west and south you are.
To find global circumstances and animations of the Earth
for locations across the globe, visit http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/
eclipse/0112015.
To find the exact viewing conditions and watch an animation
of what to expect the solar eclipse to look like where you live, visit
http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2015-march-20.

the sky goes dark for a few minutes. For

If you have a telescope and are projecting
us, although at maximum the Sun will be a
the image (see section 3), or are viewing it
thin crescent, it will still seem like daylight,
using a safe solar filter, you may notice that
though maybe slightly eerie. If you didnt
there are dark spots on the Sun: sunspots.
know there was an eclipse in progress you
These are places where the Suns magnetic
might just think there was cloud dimming
field restricts its light output. Although
the sunlight. If it is cloudy anyway,
sunspots look black, they are still part
you might hardly notice any
of the Sun and if the Moons disc
You may
difference at all.
happens to cross one you could
notice that
But if its clear, when you look
notice that the Moons disc is
there are dark
at shadows in the landscape,
darker than the sunspot.
spots on the Sun:
particularly at maximum eclipse,
Also look at the edge of the
sunspots
you may see that they will have
Moon (known as the limb) and
an odd shape, being sharper in one
you might see that it isnt completely
direction than another. Small chinks of
smooth, as you can see mountains or
light will appear crescent-shaped. Usually
valleys on the limb silhouetted against
people notice these in the shadows under
the Sun. But youll probably see a lot of
trees, but in March there are fewer trees
shimmering at the limb, which is caused by
with leaves on so they wont be as easy to
turbulence in our own atmosphere rather
spot.
than anything astronomical.

Across the UK
The diagram on the right shows the
maximum phase of the eclipse from
various locations in the UK. Scotland
will witness a larger eclipse than the
south of England. This is because
the track of totality crosses the North
Atlantic to the northwest of the UK,
as indicated by the thicker blue line
and shadow in the top left.

From London
diagrams on this page GENERATed using Skymap

What youll
see (cont.)

8:25a.m.

8:45a.m.

9:00a.m.

9:15a.m.

9:30a.m.

9:45a.m.

10:00a.m.

10:15a.m.

10:40a.m.

These diagrams show how the eclipse progresses as the Moon moves from right to left across the
Sun, as viewed from London. Timings are approximate.

ultraviolet radiation. These types of

radiation can burn your skin and hence they
will do similar damage to your eyes if you
look directly at the Sun. You only need to
look at the Sun for a few seconds for your
eyes to become permanently damaged.
In the same way, you should never look
at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope
or any other direct method. Astronomers
use special solar telescopes or filters to view
the Sun directly, but most of us do not have
access to these types of equipment.
However, there are things we can get
hold of easily or even make that are safe
to use, as suggested below.

Eclipse viewers
If you are able to find a
pair of eclipse viewers
or shades then that is a
safe and enjoyable way to
view the eclipse directly. Eclipse
viewers are made of card with special
material inlaid, and you hold them up to
the eclipse to view it. If you manage to get
hold of a viewer, you should check it for
damage such as holes or scratches, as only
undamaged filters are safe to use.
Eclipse shades are a bit like the 3D card
glasses you used to get at the cinema, but
they have special dark material in them to
cut down the Suns light by 100,000 times.
Never use material that just looks dark,
such as bin liner or gift wrap. Even though

it cuts down the visible light, it might not

cut out the dangerous infrared light, so
you could still do permanent damage to
your eyes.
Dont look up at the Sun then hold up
the viewer put the viewer to your eyes
before you look at the Sun!
For more information on how to obtain
eclipse shades, see section 4.

Colanders
By far the simplest way to view an eclipse
is to use an item you normally find in the
kitchen: a colander. Stand with your back
to the Sun and hold the colander in one
hand and a piece of paper in the other.
Hold the colander between the Sun and
the paper and watch as you safely observe
many images of the eclipse on one piece of
paper!

Nigel Evans/Galaxy

3: View using household items

Danger!
How NOT to view a solar eclipse: with
your eyes! Viewing a solar eclipse is potentially
hazardous and should only be attempted with
caution. You should never, ever under any
circumstances look directly at the Sun! And
no matter what anyone says, sunglasses
will not provide adequate protection for
your eyes. The only exception to this rule is
the brief period of totality when the Sun is
completely covered but no-one in the UK
will be able to see this on 20 March 2015.
Viewing an eclipse is dangerous
because the Suns photosphere emits very
hot infrared radiation and high-energy

View using
household
items (cont.)

Pinhole viewers
pinhole
small image of Sun

to
Sun

to
Sun

the cards should be at least

1m apart: the further apart, the
larger the image of the Sun

A simple yet safe way to view the solar

eclipse is by making a pinhole viewer.
Pinholes allow light through them,
and can create an image like a lens. All
you need for this are two pieces of white
card. Poke a small hole in one piece of card
using a compass or a similar tool. Stand
with your back to the Sun. Hold both
cards up, with the one with the pinhole
closer to the Sun. The light through the
pinhole can be projected on to the other

cereal packet

piece of card, allowing the eclipse to be

viewed safely.
An alternative to this is to use a
cereal box or similar. Make a pinhole
in one edge. Point this towards the Sun
and youll see a tiny image of the Sun
projected on to the inside of the packet.
Put white paper or card on the inside to
make it easier to see.
Never look through the pinhole at the Sun,
but only at the projected image.

Mirrors
A small mirror, such as a make-up mirror,
can be used to reflect the image of the
eclipse onto a white wall. Do not use
a magnifying mirror. Do not look into
the mirror at the eclipse as this is just as
dangerous as looking directly at the Sun.
Cover the mirror with paper in which
you have made a hole no more than
5mm across. Stand with your back to the
eclipse. Use the mirror to reflect an image
of the Sun onto a light-coloured wall,
being careful not to reflect the sunlight
into anyones eyes.
This works well when you are about
5m away from the wall. The smaller
the mirror and the further away the
wall, the sharper the image you should
get. Experimenting with the distances

Did You Know?

There was an annular eclipse visible from the
north of Scotland in 2003. On that occasion,
early morning mist spoiled the view for many.

covered mirror
with gap ~35mm

window
eclipse image on screen
or wall in dark room

and mirror size should make the image

brighter. To make the image clearer to see,
use an indoor wall in a house and reflect
the image in through a window.
Notice that the shape of the hole even
a triangle still gives a circular disc of the
Sun.

Projection using binoculars or a telescope

Robin Scagell/Galaxy

View using
household
items (cont.)

A pair of binoculars can stand in for a

pinhole. Cover one eyepiece with the lens
cap, then when the binoculars are pointed
at the Sun you should see its image
projected onto the plain card. Use the
focus wheel to sharpen the image. This
method works best if both the card and
binoculars are mounted on a tripod.
Never, ever, look directly into the binoculars
while they are pointed at the Sun.
You can use a telescope in the same
way. If it has an aperture (lens or mirror
size) larger than about 50mm, it may come
with a cap that reduces its aperture to this
size for safety. But while this method is
safe for humans, unless you are careful it
can damage your valuable binoculars or
telescope. This is because the Suns light
is focused on the inside of the eyepiece,
which could contain plastic parts. If the

Did You Know?

An eclipse of the Moon occurs when the Moon
passes through the shadow of the Earth. Unlike
a solar eclipse, this only happens at night, and
it can be seen from anywhere on Earth where
the Moon is visible. The next total lunar eclipse
visible from the UK will be in the early morning
of 28 September 2015.

Sun drifts out of the field of view, it might

melt the inside of the eyepiece! So take
great care, or use an old eyepiece (many
older eyepieces used metal rather than
plastic).
An alternative is to completely cover
the top end of the telescope with suitable
solar film, such as Baader AstroSolar.
This is available in A4 sheets which you
can cut to fit. As long as the material fully
covers the top end, with no chance of the
filter being dislodged and no chinks in
the holder, it is perfectly safe to view the
partial eclipse through the telescope.
This is also the material to use if you
want to photograph the eclipse through
a telephoto lens. An alternative is to
photograph the projected view with an
ordinary camera or even your phone
camera.

4: Resources and websites

Resources for teachers

Primary resources
Role-play a solar eclipse
www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/
for-schools-and-teachers/2554-solar-eclipserole-play
Paper model of a solar eclipse
sunearthday.nasa.gov/2008eclipse/materials/
My_solar_eclipse.pdf
Write a newspaper article
www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/
for-schools-and-teachers/2555-solar-eclipsenewspaper-article

Secondary resources
Solar eclipse worksheet (years 79)
www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/
for-schools-and-teachers/2556-solar-eclipseworksheet-years-7-9
The maths of a solar eclipse (year 1011)
www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/forschools-and-teachers/2557-the-maths-of-asolar-eclipse-year-10-11

Eclipses in general and the 20 March 2015 eclipse

Royal Astronomical Society
www.ras.org.uk/education-and-careers/foreveryone/2558-solar-eclipses
Eclipse Calculator: select your town
www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/uk/
london?iso=20150320
UK Hydrographic Office: the eclipse of
20 March 2015
astro.ukho.gov.uk/eclipse/0112015
The eclipse of 20 March 2015
www.solareclipse2015.org.uk/chasing-theshadow/about-the-eclipse

Sheridan Williams: topical and historical

eclipse information
www.clock-tower.com/eclipse.htm
European Space Agency: general eclipse
information
www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/
What_is_an_eclipse
HM Nautical Almanac Office: solar and
lunar eclipses
www.eclipse.org.uk

Make an eclipse viewer

The Exploratorium in San Francisco, USA,
gives simple ways of viewing the Sun
www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how.html
Construct your own eclipse viewer
www.scholastic.com/browse/subarticle.
jsp?id=2265
How to make a shoe-box viewer to safely
view the solar eclipse
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlLKLi1OGe4

A step-by-step guide to making a

cereal box viewer
hilaroad.com/camp/projects/eclipse_viewer/
eclipse_viewer.htm
European Space Education Resource
Office links to eclipse viewing information
www.esero.org.uk/news/solar-eclipse-2012

Buy safe eclipse viewers or projectors in the UK

www.eclipseglasses.co.uk
www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/
Solar_Eclipse_Glasses.html
www.amazon.co.uk/Eclipse-Glasses-SolarShades-Black/dp/B00PZ5KOXI/ref=sr_1_cc_1?
s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1418390762&sr=1-1-catc
orr&keywords=rainbow+symphony+eclipse

www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Eclipse_
Viewing_Pack.html
www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/Products/
THE_SOLAR_PROJECTOR.html
www.britastro.org/solarviewers
www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baadersolar-eclipse-observing-glasses.html

Free eclipse viewers!

If you are an SPA member, or if you join in January or February 2015, you
will automatically receive an eclipse viewer with the magazine in March 2015.
See www.popastro.com
If you print this leaflet out and bring it to the RAS in London before 20
March 2015, the first 100 people will receive a free eclipse viewer. Our address
is Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BQ.
If you follow @RAS_outreach and @popastro and tweet to tell us where
youll be viewing the eclipse using #eclipse2015 before 15 March 2015, the
first 100 tweets will receive a free eclipse viewer. Viewers will be sent out by
second-class post and therefore will only be available to UK recipients.

Get yourself on our viewing map!

Tweet @RAS_outreach and @popastro using #eclipse2015 and tell us
where youll be viewing the eclipse. Fill in your details on our interactive map
to share where youll be viewing the eclipse: www.solareclipse.ras.ac.uk

Keep in touch
If you want to come to the RAS public viewing event on 20 March 2015 or if
you just want to know more, join our mailing list by tweeting @RAS_outreach
or emailing [email protected]
Schools can have an eclipse-related school visit by our Education, Outreach
and Diversity Officer (and they might even bring some free eclipse viewers
with them). Email [email protected] if you are interested in a school visit.

On the day
Tweet us with photos of you viewing the eclipse! Tweet @RAS_outreach
and @popastro using #eclipse2015 and send us your photos.
Come and watch the eclipse with the RAS!

Watch Lucie Green explain safe viewing

The SPA is producing a video
starring Lucie Green of BBC TVs
Sky at Night, in which she shows
how to observe the eclipse safely.
To view it, keep an eye on the
SPA website: www.popastro.com
MAX ALEXANDER

Resources
and websites
(cont.)