SOLAR eclipses are an exciting experience for everyone but they do come with some must-know dangers.
The most important risk to be aware of is to your eyes.
It's imperative that you never look directly at the sun with the naked eye.
Fortunately, there are ways to observe the spectacle safely.
Why is the solar eclipse dangerous?
A solar eclipse can damage your eyes due to the super strong solar ultraviolet rays.
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"Even when you’ve got a thin crescent left, it’s still easy enough to damage your eyes," warned Dr Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society.
Essentially, these bright rays can burn the cells in your retina at the back of the eye.
The retina doesn't have any pain receptors so you won't even be aware of any problem.
And when these cells die, there's no turning back.
This can lead to permanent damage, such as blurred vision and colour distortion.
What precautions should be taken during a solar eclipse?
Nasa says when watching a partial or annular solar eclipse you must look through safe solar viewing glasses - also known as eclipse glasses - or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times.
You should check the glasses before for any tears, scratches or other damage.
And be sure to watch over children using solar viewers too.
Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe to watch the spectacle with.
Viewing through camera lens, telescopes and binoculars are also a big no.
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If you don't have appropriate glasses available in time, you could try creating your own pin-hole viewer with a cereal box - see how in the video at the top of this page.
Where can I buy eclipse glasses?
Watchers have been warned to watch out for rip-off eclipse viewers that can damage your eyes.
It's best to buy them from established, well-known retailers with a history of quality products - and avoid dubious or unfamiliar websites and marketplaces offering suspiciously low prices.
A legitimate pair of eclipse glasses adhere to international safety standards.
Look for ISO certification (International Organization for Standardization) specifically mentioning compliance with the ISO 12312-2 standard for safe solar filter glasses.
