The Met Office has identified the prime UK locations for witnessing the most significant solar eclipse in 54 years, set to occur on Wednesday. Devon and Cornwall, along with the westernmost parts of Pembrokeshire in Wales, are expected to experience the eclipse at its fullest, with the moon obscuring between 94% and 96% of the sun.
This celestial event, happening between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12, will see more than 90% of the sun blocked by the moon across the UK, marking the highest obscuration since the total eclipse of 1999.
Regional Coverage Details
Plymouth is forecast to see the moon cover 94.66% of the sun at 7.16pm, while Cardiff will witness 93.24% coverage at 7.13pm and Belfast 93.09% at 7.08pm. Other areas in Wales, Northern Ireland, parts of the West Midlands, the South West, and western Scotland can expect between 92% and 94% coverage.
For the rest of the UK, coverage is predicted to range from 90% to 92%, with Birmingham seeing 91.79%, London 91.41%, Inverness 90.74%, Edinburgh 90.71%, and Newcastle 90.22%.
Safety Warnings and Viewing Tips
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has cautioned that regular sunglasses are not safe for viewing the eclipse. Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, emphasized the importance of proper eye protection: “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time. So, it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared. You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes.”
Bell recommended using solar eclipse glasses, which block out significantly more light than regular sunglasses, or a solar telescope. She also suggested projecting the eclipse using household items like a colander: “point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.”
Future Eclipses
The next time the moon obscures as much of the sun will be in 2081, and the next total solar eclipse in the UK is expected in 2090. For the best view, Bell advised finding a vantage point facing west with minimal buildings. While the UK will see a partial eclipse, cities like Reykjavik in Iceland and several Spanish cities will experience a total eclipse.
