Brian May and the call to protect himself for the eclipse: in the car he does not listen to Queen The video

Brian May, lead guitarist of the rock band Queen and an astrophysicist with a doctorate in the field, has urged the public to take precautions while observing the solar eclipse set to occur on August 12. During a road trip in Spain, May shared safety tips on social media, emphasizing the dangers of viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection. His message comes amid growing interest in the celestial event, which will be visible across parts of Europe, including Spain. The British musician, who is currently in Spain to witness the eclipse, warned against using regular sunglasses or other makeshift filters to look directly at the sun. "Never think it's safe to look at the Sun with sunglasses," he said in a video posted online. "You could end up blinded." Instead, he recommended certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard, as well as the pinhole projection method, which allows viewers to observe the eclipse indirectly through a small aperture. May’s advice was aimed particularly at parents, urging them to ensure children understand the risks associated with direct exposure to sunlight during an eclipse. "Be careful! And make sure your kids know the danger too, okay?" he added, highlighting the importance of supervision when young people attempt to view the phenomenon. Solar eclipses pose a risk primarily because the human eye is not equipped to handle the intense brightness of the sun. Looking directly at the sun, even briefly, can cause serious damage to the retina, especially the macula, which is responsible for central vision. This is why experts stress the need for specialized protective eyewear, which is designed to block nearly all of the sun's harmful rays. Regular sunglasses, even if worn in pairs or combined with other filters, are not sufficient to prevent injury. The eclipse itself is not inherently dangerous, but improper observation techniques can lead to permanent vision loss. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they may not fully grasp the risks involved. For this reason, adults should always accompany minors during such events and ensure they follow safety guidelines. Meanwhile, scientists are preparing to study the eclipse in detail. Researchers from Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics (Inaf), including Lucia Abbo and Gerardo Capobianco, plan to observe the event from an aircraft over Ireland. They hope to gain insights into the sun’s corona, a region of plasma that extends millions of kilometers into space. Normally, the sun’s bright disk makes it difficult to study the corona, but during an eclipse, the moon blocks much of the light, allowing researchers to capture detailed images of the outer atmosphere. The observations could help scientists better understand the dynamics of solar activity, including the mechanisms behind solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena have implications for space weather, which can affect satellite operations and power grids on Earth. The data collected during the eclipse will contribute to ongoing research efforts aimed at improving predictions of solar storms. As the date of the eclipse approaches, authorities and scientific organizations are expected to issue further guidance on how to safely observe the event. Public awareness campaigns are likely to emphasize the importance of using certified eclipse glasses and avoiding risky behavior. Meanwhile, May continues to share updates from his travels in Spain, offering both entertainment and education to followers interested in the astronomical spectacle.