Astronomer warns ordinary sunglasses cannot protect during eclipse

People in Estonia will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, but ordinary sunglasses will not provide sufficient protection, ERR reported. Astronomer Üllar Kivila, who travelled to Spain to observe the eclipse, said the event would be total there and partial in Estonia.

Kivila said the eclipse was still worth watching in Estonia because one with the same level of coverage will not be visible there again for another 10 years. The last eclipse with a similar phase occurred in 2015.

The eclipse will take place in the evening, shortly before sunset. It will begin at around 8 p.m., with the maximum phase at 8:55 p.m. The end will not be visible because the Sun will set about five minutes after the maximum.

At its peak, the lower part of the Sun will appear covered, making it look like an upside-down crescent above the horizon. Because the Sun will be low in the sky, observers will need to find a spot unobstructed by trees and buildings.

Kivila advised using eclipse glasses, smoked glass or a welding mask when looking at the Sun. Ordinary sunglasses are designed to darken the image, not to make it safe to stare at the Sun. He said that if viewers need to squint or find it uncomfortable to look at the Sun, the equipment they are using is not adequate.