Beware the venus eye trap

The Government's chief medical officer has warned that people could permanently damage their vision if they look directly at Venus' passing across the face of the Sun on Tuesday (June 8). Professor Sir Liam Donaldson said that unwary people risked going blind if they viewed the solar event, instead of observing it via the media. From 6.19am to 12.23pm on Tuesday, Venus will cross the face of the Sun as seen from Earth for the first time in 122 years. 'We want viewers of the first transit of Venus since 1882 to enjoy it safely,' said Donaldson. 'Children are particularly vulnerable as they will be tempted to take a peek Ð we must do all we can to protect their eyesight.' Under no circumstances should viewers look directly at the Sun, he warned. 'The safest way to view the event is on television or on the internet.' Direct observation through a telescope, binoculars or a camera was unsafe, he said, and sunglasses would be totally inadequate. The RNIB's Anita Lightstone, head of low visio