Keele University hosting solar eclipse viewing event - and it's freeThis evening the UK will see the first near-total solar eclipse since 1999View Image (Image: Staffordshire County Council)People from across North Staffordshire are being invited to make the most of the UK's first near-total solar eclipse since 1999. ‌Keele University are hosting a viewing of the solar eclipse from their campus - free of charge - in partnership with the Newchapel Observatory. ‌Instead, residents are advised to use certified eclipse glasses or indirect viewing methods, such as a pinhole projector, to enjoy the event safely. Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said: "A solar eclipse is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to experience something quite memorable. It will be open until 8.15pm, giving visitors plenty of time to find the perfect spot and watch the eclipse unfold.