A PARTIAL solar eclipse could be visible in the skies above Wharfedale tomorrow morning, but experts are warning people wanting to watch the phenomenon to play it safe.

The eclipse is expected to bring out hundreds of sky-watchers eager to witness the phenomenon as the moon moves in front of the sun on Friday.

But experts have warned of the real danger of permanent damage to vision if people fail to take the necessary precautions.

The eclipse is expected to be seen at about 9.30am, but how much of it is visible will depend on the level of cloud coverage, said Hilary Knaggs, treasurer and former chairman of Bradford Astronomical Society.

She said: “It is caused by the moon going across the sun, so if it is a clear day it will go quite dark because we are only getting about ten per cent of the sun, as the remaining 90 per cent will be blocked. If it’s not very clear, then we won’t be able to see very much at all. People will still notice it darkening, but won’t be able to see a crescent.”

She advised those wanting to watch the phenomenon to never look directly at the sun – either with the naked eye, or with a camera or other such equipment. Anyone looking directly at the eclipse risked burning their eyes out and permanent blindness.

A pinhole projector using a piece of card, or a box to project an image of the eclipse on to a piece of white card, was the easiest solution, she said.

Around the UK the proportion of the sun covered by the moon will increase towards the north, ranging from 84 per cent in London to 89 per cent in Manchester, 93 per cent in Edinburgh, and 97 per cent in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.

Times will also vary. In London, the eclipse begins at 8.24am, reaches its maximum extent at 9.31am, and ends at 10.41am. For observers in Edinburgh, the eclipse starts at 8.30am and peaks at 9.35 am.

The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11, 1999, and was “total” – with 100 per cent of the sun covered – when seen from Cornwall.

Another “deep” partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12, 2026 and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.