Solar eclipse (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) There’s a strong chance you know already, but there’s a pretty big solar eclipse happening later today (12 Aug) – and there won’t be another one like it until 2090. The eclipse, which will see the moon obscure the sun by up to 95% (depending on where you’re viewing it from), will take place between 6pm and 8pm, causing the sky to darken for a period of time. Health experts and the UK government have warned that you can’t look at the sun during this time without the right protection as it can cause permanent damage to your eyesight. Sunglasses won’t work either. You can buy certified solar eclipse glasses, but if you didn’t order yours in time (or they were sold out), fear not! Here are a couple of ways you can watch the rare event safely. 1. Make a projector There are two ways to do this. Dr Shireen Ghezel, a GP, shared how to make a projector at home using a cereal box, some white paper and a square of foil. Simply cut a strip of white paper and pop it at the bottom of the cereal box (this is what the eclipse will be projected onto). Then, cut out two slots from the top of the cereal box and pop a square of foil on one side, poking a hole through it with a biro. When it’s time to look at the eclipse, turn your back to the sun and let the sun shine into the hole (via the foil). Peek into the box on the other side to see it projected onto the paper. View this post on Instagram If you haven’t got a box to hand, you’ll need a biro, a piece of card and something to project the sun onto (a bit of paper would work). In a video shared to Facebook, David Jones, a consultant ophthalmologist for Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, made a hole in a piece of card with his biro and then held the card up, facing the sun, with the piece of paper behind it. The sunlight could be seen shining through the card and making a dot of light on the paper. 2. Use a colander No recycling to hand? No problem! Grab a colander from your kitchen cupboard, stand outside and project the sun onto the ground through the colander’s many holes. Jones said it’s his favourite method, as “you can make not just one picture of the sun, but a hundred all at once”. What about taking a photo? Some people on social media have suggested using phone selfie cameras to watch the eclipse indirectly through their phone screens. If you don’t have a special solar filter, there’s a risk that the intense sunlight can damage your camera lens, so generally this isn’t advised. Related... The Largest Solar Eclipse In 25 Years Is Coming To The UK – Here’s Where And When To Look I Just Learned What Total Eclipse Of The Heart Was Written About And I’m In Shock