It may be worth keeping an eye on the sky on Wednesday, even from Sweden, which is not in the path of tomorrow's total solar eclipse.
"It's the best chance before 2039," Robert Cumming, astronomer at Chalmers University of Technology, said to Swedish newswire TT.
On August 12th, the moon will block around 80 percent of the sun's light throughout Sweden.
The partial solar eclipse will begin around 7pm and will peak around 8pm in most of Sweden. In the far north, the phenomenon will begin and end up to 20 minutes earlier.
"The sun's disk will look like a crescent, a bit like the moon usually does. It is the narrowest solar crescent we will see for quite a while," said Cumming.
A clear view to the west will be necessary in Sweden, as the sun will be low in the sky when the moon begins to pass in front.
Don't just look up
It is dangerous to look at the sun even during a solar eclipse.
Why?
"The sun emits strong radiation that can burn holes in the retina and cause you to lose your visual acuity. This also applies if the sun is partially covered and the light is perceived as weaker," ophthalmologist Gauti Jóhannesson told TT.
Experts therefore recommend wearing eclipse glasses certified to the DIN EN ISO 12312-2:2015 standard; anything less isn't safe.
Certified glasses have been available at some opticians and pharmacies leading up to the eclipse day. Commentors on social media sites like Reddit suggested Normal or Lidl stores, so it's worth checking with ones near you.
But if you find shops are sold out, what are your options?
Don't use regular sunglasses
"They are not enough protection," said Jóhannesson. "Sunglasses are good to use on sunny days, but not if you are going to look directly at the sun."
No eclipse glasses? Here’s how to watch safely
The good news is that you don't need certified glasses to enjoy the eclipse – there are other, more low-tech, ways to observe it without ever looking directly at the sun.
Observe shadows
This is the simplest option and needs no equipment at all. When sunlight passes through a small gap, it projects the shape of the light source onto whatever surface is behind it. During the eclipse, that means everyday objects with small holes; think colanders, cheese graters or even laced fingers will cast a scattering of crescent-shaped shadows on the ground.
Standing under a leafy tree works too. For this option, just look at the dappled light beneath it and you should see tiny crescents, rather than the usual circular dots.
Pinhole projector
For a slightly more hands-on approach, poke a small hole in one end of a cardboard box with a pin or pen. Face the hole toward the sun, then look at the opposite end of the box to see the sun's image projected there. If the box is big enough, you can put your head inside; otherwise, cut a small viewing slot in the side.
Make sure you never look through the pinhole itself, only at the projected image. Looking through the hole is just as damaging to your eyes as looking directly at the sun.
Mirror projection
If you'd rather share the view with a group, cover a small, flat mirror with paper or cloth, leaving only a small hole in the centre. Angle the mirror so sunlight reflects through that hole and onto a wall or screen. The smaller the hole, the sharper (but dimmer) the image. Get the projection big or crisp enough, and you may even see some of the sunspots on the sun's surface.
Of course, as with the other methods, never look at the sun via the mirror itself, which is just as damaging as staring at the sun directly. Only look at the projected image on the wall.
Disco ball
One of the best options is a disco ball, according to an international study from last year, to which astronomer Robert Cumming, among others, contributed.
"It turned out that a disco ball works just fine in almost all situations," he said to TT.
"You just put it in the sunlight, and it sends out small spots of light in the room or on a wall so that you can follow the solar eclipse as it happens. And then it becomes a bit festive, too."
Is there anything you can do if an accident has already happened?
"Unfortunately not," ophthalmologist Gauti Jóhannesson told TT. "If you have burned your retina, time will tell how serious the damage is and how much of your vision has been affected."
So, however you end up watching – eclipse glasses, pinhole, shadows, or disco ball – just don't look up without protection. Your retinas will thank you.
Bonus tip!
The nights around August 12th are often the best time of year to see shooting stars, when the Perseid meteor shower is at its most active. No eclipse glasses or disco ball needed.
If you know a spot in Sweden where readers might find a last-minute pair, let us know in the comments below !