Astronomy superfan, 11, shares tips for watching solar eclipse

Efan Dafydd, an 11-year-old astronomy enthusiast, shared his advice for safely viewing an upcoming solar eclipse. Born with a passion for space, Efan's interest began at the age of two after receiving a Welsh-language book about space. He warns against using the special glasses from the 1999 total eclipse, as they could be damaged and harm one's vision. Instead, he emphasizes the necessity of using proper solar glasses during the upcoming partial solar eclipse, which will cover more than 90% of the Sun in the UK.

Efan, a member of the Vale Stargazing Club, encourages people to take precautions when watching the event, including using a solar filter for cameras and telescopes. Despite the cold weather, Efan expressed excitement about the opportunity to witness the eclipse from a gliding club runway in Denbigh. His favorite celestial object is Neptune, due to its Great Dark Spot, a storm system larger than Earth.

Efan's admiration for space was further fueled when he met astronaut Tim Peake, who provided guidance on becoming an astronaut. Recommendations included pursuing an engineering degree or joining the Royal Air Force, maintaining good academic performance, staying physically fit, and learning Russian to aid in training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. Efan has been consistently learning Russian through Duolingo, maintaining an impressive streak of nearly 300 days.