The UK is set to witness its most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999 on Wednesday, August 12, with around 90 per cent of the Sun covered by the Moon. A total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Spain, Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia and a small area of northern Portugal.
When and Where to See It
In London, Bristol and Cardiff, the eclipse will begin at around 6.17pm, reach its maximum at about 7.12pm and conclude at approximately 8.06pm, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich. Cornwall will see around 95 per cent coverage at 7.16pm, making the south-west the region with the greatest eclipse coverage in the UK, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
Do You Need Special Glasses?
Yes, special eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers are essential, as they are "thousands of times" darker than regular sunglasses, according to NASA. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that looking directly at the Sun during an eclipse without proper protection can cause serious eye damage.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of vision problems after the 1999 total solar eclipse, with about 40 per cent of those affected having observed it for less than a minute. Even with eclipse glasses, never look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device.
Alternative Safe Viewing Methods
For those without eclipse glasses, the UKHSA recommends making a pinhole viewer at home using a long cardboard box, white paper, aluminium foil, tape, scissors and a push pin. Alternatively, you can view the Sun's image projected through a colander or gaps between tree leaves, or use a simple pinhole projector.
Live webcasts are also available, including from the European Space Agency, NASA and the Italy-based Virtual Telescope Project.
