People across the UK will get a spectacular display of the power of nature when a solar eclipse casts its shadow in August. Parts of Europe, including Iceland and Northern Spain, will experience a total eclipse that turns day into night, while the UK will enjoy a partial eclipse, creating an eerie early twilight.
What Will Happen During the Eclipse
The eclipse will occur as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking up to 95% of the Sun's light in the UK and even causing a temporary dip in temperature. This event on Wednesday, August 12 will offer the greatest Sun coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 solar eclipse.
A spokesman for Royal Museums Greenwich explained: "The new Moon and the Sun will gradually move closer together in the sky in the late afternoon. As the side facing us will be dark, the Moon will be invisible without specialist equipment."
Timings and Coverage Across the UK
From London, 'first contact' will occur at 6:17pm BST, when the Moon first covers part of the Sun's disk. The Moon will move slowly in front of the Sun until roughly 90% is covered at the eclipse's maximum at 7:12pm. After that, the Moon will move off the Sun's disk until the eclipse ends at 8:06pm. The spokesman added: "Getting to a high point with a clear view of the western horizon will allow you to see the whole event."
Here are the exact timings and peak coverage for different UK regions:
- South West England (Cornwall/Plymouth/Truro): Begins 6:18pm, maximum 95-96% at 7:16pm, ends 8:10pm.
- Wales (Cardiff/Swansea/Pembrokeshire): Starts 6:16pm, peak 93-94% at 7:13pm, ends 8:07pm.
- Northern Ireland (Belfast): Begins 6:10pm, peak 93% at 7:08pm, ends 8:03pm.
- North West England & Midlands (Manchester/Liverpool/Birmingham): Starts 6:13pm, peak 91.5% at 7:10pm (7:11pm Birmingham), ends 8:04pm.
- London & South East England: Starts 6:17pm, maximum 91.4% at 7:13pm, ends 8:06pm.
- Scotland (Edinburgh/Glasgow): Starts 6:08pm, peak 91% at 7:05pm, ends 8:00pm.
- North East England & Yorkshire (Leeds/Newcastle): Starts 6:12pm, maximum 90.5% at 7:09pm, ends 8:03pm.
Safety Precautions
Because this is a partial eclipse and the Sun is never completely covered in the UK, it is never safe to look directly at it without certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses. Regular sunglasses or makeshift filters will not protect your eyes.
