A rare solar eclipse is set to be visible from the UK and Ireland on August 12, with up to 97.5% of the Sun covered in some areas. The event is the first of its kind in the UK in nearly 30 years.
Partial eclipse visible from UK and Ireland
Britons can expect to experience "the best solar eclipse so far this century" as a partial solar eclipse will be visible from the country and Ireland, with around 90-96% of the Sun covered by the Moon, according to the Royal Museum Greenwich website. The best spots in the UK include London at 90%, Pembrokeshire at 94%, and Cornwall at 95%. Those on the south-western tip of Ireland might see almost 97.5% coverage, making it the best spot in the British Isles.
Total eclipse path
Other countries in Europe, however, are likely to experience a total eclipse. According to the National Solar Observatory (NSO), these are Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, and northern Spain. The Arctic Ocean is also included in the list, as well as Alaska, Siberia, West Africa, and Norway.
Timing and visibility
The event starts near the North Pole before reaching Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. But the total eclipse is likely to be seen off the Icelandic coast. Latest info says it is also set to reach some areas of Portugal before ending in the Mediterranean.
Daisy Dobrijevic, Skywatching Editor at Space.com, said: "Because it happens in the evening, the sun will be low to the west, so try to find somewhere with a clear view of the western horizon."
The Royal Museum Greenwich website explains: "At the maximum, enough of the Sun will be covered to make a noticeable difference in the temperature and light levels. However, unlike with a total eclipse, the sky will not become dark - it will feel more like a cloudy day or close to dusk or dawn."
UK timings
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has said that Edinburgh and Glasgow will reach the eclipse maximum first, at 7.05pm. Galway and Dublin, and Manchester and Liverpool come next, at 7.10pm. Norwich and Birmingham will reach eclipse maximum at 7.11pm, London, Bristol, and Cardiff at 7.12pm, and Truro last at 7.16pm. The partial solar eclipse will be over by between 8pm and 8.10pm, depending on location.
Safety advice
The NSO says "looking directly at the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse ('totality'), when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun's bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality". It also says "the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as 'eclipse glasses' or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun."
Full list of countries and areas that will experience a total solar eclipse
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Atlantic Ocean
- Portugal
- Northern Spain
- Arctic Ocean
- Alaska
- Siberia
- West Africa
- Norway
