Tonight's partial solar eclipse marks the biggest sky spectacle in the UK since the total eclipse of 1999, with more than 90% of the Sun obscured by the Moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, depending on location.
Safety warnings and phone camera risk
Experts have warned that looking directly at the eclipse without appropriate eye protection is highly dangerous. Only ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses are safe, and regular sunglasses are not sufficient. A pinhole viewer made from a cereal box is a safe alternative.
Brits have been urged not to use their phone's front-facing camera to view the eclipse, as it could damage the device. NASA said pointing a phone camera directly at the Sun could damage its image sensor, and using magnifying lenses increases the risk. The organisation suggested using a solar filter or holding eclipse glasses in front of the lens.
Eclipse timings and best viewpoints
The eclipse will last about one hour and 50 minutes from the UK and Ireland. In London, it begins at 6.17pm, peaks at 7.12pm, and finishes at 8.06pm. In Manchester, it starts at 6.13pm, peaks at 7.10pm, and ends at 8.03pm. Cardiff sees it from 6.16pm to 8.06pm, while the Isles of Scilly have an earlier start at 6pm and finish at 8.05pm.
Dr Carys Herbert, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, said Cornwall will experience 96% coverage, West Scotland 93%, and London 92%. Plymouth will see 95%, and Cardiff and Belfast 93%. The South and South East are likely to have the clearest skies, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have a higher chance of cloud and rain.
Travel and demand surge
Eclipse glasses have sold out in many places, leading to reselling at inflated prices. In Dublin, hundreds queued for hours to buy glasses at €10 each. A reseller in London sold them for £100 each, citing supply and demand. A camera shop in Wales sold around 500 pairs within hours.
In Spain, the rush to see totality pushed hotel prices to £1,000 a night, with campsites full. Deputy travel editor Milo Boyd, in Bilbao, reported that all transport south was sold out as eclipse fans headed to Burgos, which will experience 1 minute 44 seconds of darkness at 8.29pm local time.
What if you miss it?
Anyone missing tonight's eclipse will have another chance on August 2, 2027, when a partial eclipse will be visible from the UK, with totality in parts of Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. The next total solar eclipse visible from Britain is not expected until September 23, 2090.
