Queen guitarist and qualified astrophysicist Brian May has shared safety advice ahead of the solar eclipse visible in the UK on 12 August. He warned people not to look directly at the Sun or use binoculars or telescopes pointed at it, instead recommending simple projection methods such as a pinhole in cardboard. The advice matters because viewing an eclipse without proper protection can seriously damage eyesight.

Much of Europe is expected to see a total eclipse, while the UK will see a partial eclipse from around 6.30pm BST; the last comparable event visible in Britain was in 1999. May, who was in Spain hoping to see totality despite possible cloud, described a total solar eclipse as a potentially life-changing experience lasting about one minute and 40 seconds. He said it creates an unusual sense of Earth’s place within the Solar System.