On the morning of March 20, we will have a large partial solar eclipse in Edgware.

This may well be the only one I will ever see from my own front door.

Since 1979, I have travelled the world to see 16 eclipses, the first in Canada on February 26, 1979, which was also in the same Saros Series 120 as this one and it was also Saros 120 in February 1961.

While I could have gone on a ship to see the upcoming partial solar eclipse, the weather prospects are not good in that area and the long-term forecast for Edgware is quite good.

Of my 16 eclipses only two failed due to cloud – Cornwall 1999 and Shanghai 2009.

On a more serious note, readers should take note that this eclipse can cause eye damage or blindness if the correct filters are not used. Forget film negatives, smoked glass etc, these are not safe. You can get eclipse filters on eBay that would be OK if used correctly.

Also please note that Hampstead Observatory is now open on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. Venus and Jupiter are well placed at the moment. Admission is free. Members of the public are also welcome to attend our lectures which I arrange.

Details of the society can be found at www.hampsteadscience.ac.uk

Jim Brightwell

Cloister Gardens, Edgware