Solar eclipse glasses or specialist telescopes are the only safe means of viewing the eclipse directly, or alternatively the eclipse can be projected using a pinhole or everyday household objects such as a colander, which contains numerous holes. Wednesday's solar eclipse will be the finest this nation has witnessed in 54 years, and anticipation has been so overwhelming in the run-up to the event that High Street shops and online retailers have completely sold out of eclipse glasses. Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, previously informed the Press Association: "It's not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. The next occasion when the moon will obscure such a significant portion of the sun won't occur until 2081, while the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is expected in 2090. Ms Bell advised getting to a vantage point facing west, with minimal buildings around, as the best way to view the eclipse.