The UK's fullest solar eclipse for the next 54 years will take place on Wednesday, August 12. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, the most since the total eclipse in 1999.
Best viewing locations
The Met Office revealed the best places in the UK to see the cosmic phenomena were Devon, Cornwall and the west of Pembrokeshire. Other parts of the country will also see the partial eclipse, with Plymouth forecast to see 94.66% coverage at 7.16pm.
The rest of Wales, Northern Ireland, parts of the West Midlands and the South West, and the westernmost parts of Scotland can expect to see 92% to 94% solar coverage.
Expert tips for safe viewing
Ed Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, shared a key tip: "The eclipse is happening in the evening so it is pretty low on the horizon. What you really want is a nice clear flat horizon, so you just have an unobstructed view of the sun." He suggested facing west and moving away from high-rise buildings, though this could be difficult in a city.
Bloomer warned against looking directly at the sun: "It doesn't matter that most of the sun is covered, you can't look directly at it. It's too bright to look at, not even a glance. You really do need protective equipment to look at the sun."
Safe methods and alternatives
Solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified are recommended. Another method is using a colander: point it towards the sun with your back facing it, and the eclipse will be visible in the shadow. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich will also livestream the event.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer, said: "It's not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. We're not going to get one this good for a really long time. So, it's important not to miss it, and to be prepared." She added that solar eclipse glasses "block out so much light that you can't see anything through them except the sun."
Health risks and future eclipses
Consumers have been warned against using "knock-off" glasses, as safety-approved options have mostly sold out online. Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of vision problems, with about 40% having looked for less than a minute.
Mohamed Elalfy, consultant ophthalmologist and president of the Royal College, said: "Looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision. Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens." Symptoms may include blurred vision, central blind spots, distorted vision, reduced colour perception, and increased light sensitivity.
The next time the moon obscures as much of the sun will be in 2081, and the next total solar eclipse in the UK will be in 2090. Reykjavik in Iceland and Spanish cities A Coruna, Oviedo, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Valencia will see a total eclipse on Wednesday.
