PEOPLE hoping to watch today’s solar eclipse are facing eye-watering prices, with some glasses listed for over £100 on social media.
It has led to warnings for people not to pay over the odds for eclipse glasses and to make sure they are not fake, after a number of sellers have listed them for sale in Worcester and Malvern.
Online listings show solar eclipse glasses being offered to Worcestershire residents at vastly inflated prices ahead of tonight’s partial solar eclipse.
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Other sellers have also been seen listing the glasses for around £10.
A screenshot from social media shows a single pair of eclipse glasses listed for £100 (Image: Facebook)
A screenshot from social media shows a single pair of eclipse glasses listed for £100, with the seller describing them as “brand new and unused” and “ideal for safely viewing the eclipse”.
The rush to snap up eyewear has coincided with warnings from experts about counterfeit and unsafe eclipse glasses being sold online.
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All proper solar eclipse glasses should feature the official ISO 12312-2 safety standard certification printed on them.
When is the solar eclipse happening tonight?
The surge in demand comes as thousands prepare to watch what experts have described as one of the most spectacular astronomical events visible from Britain in years.
More than 90 per cent of the sun is expected to be obscured in parts of the UK at the eclipse’s peak.
The partial solar eclipse will be visible across Worcestershire this evening, with the event reaching its maximum coverage at around 7.12pm.
Planetarium Astronomer Dr Carys Herbert demonstrates wearing Celestron solar eclipse glasses. (Image: Jordan Pettitt)
Where is the best place to watch the solar eclipse in Worcestershire?
Astronomy enthusiasts are being encouraged to find locations with a clear view of the western horizon, away from tall buildings and trees.
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Popular local vantage points include Worcester Woods Country Park, the Malvern Hills, Perdiswell Park, Ketch View Point, Bredon Hill, Broadway Tower and open countryside surrounding the city, where viewers are less likely to have their view obstructed.
However, weather conditions will ultimately determine how much of the eclipse can be seen.
Can I still watch the solar eclipse without glasses?
Residents unable to get hold of certified eclipse glasses are being encouraged to use indirect viewing methods instead.
Experts recommend watching a livestream of the event or using a projection method, such as a pinhole projector or household colander, to project an image of the eclipsed sun onto the ground rather than looking at it directly.
Some welding goggles can also be worn as long as they are shade 12 or higher.