After Wednesday's partial solar eclipse, the UK will have to wait decades for another significant event, with the next major one occurring in 2081, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.
Wednesday's eclipse
On Wednesday, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's face and leaving a narrow strip of Earth's surface in darkness. This solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, with places like Spain, Portugal, and Iceland experiencing full totality.
In the UK, up to 96 per cent of the Sun will be covered in the Isles of Scilly, with most of the country expected to see above 90 per cent coverage. This makes it the most significant event of its kind since 1999.
When is the next big one?
The next solar eclipse with more than 90 per cent coverage will be on September 3, 2081, when up to 99 per cent of the Sun will be obscured. Cornwall and the south coast will again be the best viewing spots, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.
Nine years later, on September 23, 2090, the British Isles will finally experience a total solar eclipse – the first since 1999 – with the southern coast again the prime location.
Minor eclipses in between
Before these major events, the UK will see several partial eclipses: 50 per cent coverage in 2030, 40 per cent in 2053, 60 per cent in 2066, 70 per cent in both 2075 and 2082, and 40 per cent in 2088. A handful of smaller eclipses will also occur in between.
