The partial solar eclipse visible from the UK on Wednesday evening will be the best seen from the nation in 27 years, with over 90 per cent of the Sun hidden by the Moon in most areas.
The eclipse will begin at 6pm, with the maximum occurring between about 7.05pm and 7.13pm BST depending on location. The next time the Moon obscures as much of the Sun will be in 2081, and the next total solar eclipse in the UK will be in 2090.
Best viewing spots in the west
The Met Office has identified the western parts of the UK as the best places to watch the eclipse. Those in Devon, Cornwall and the westernmost parts of Pembrokeshire in Wales will see the eclipse at its fullest, with 94 per cent to 96 per cent of the Sun obscured.
Plymouth is forecast to see the Moon cover 94.66 per cent of the Sun at 7.16pm. The rest of Wales, Northern Ireland, parts of the West Midlands and the South West, and the westernmost parts of Scotland are expected to see 92 per cent to 94 per cent coverage.
Coverage across the UK
In Cardiff, the Moon will obscure 93.24 per cent of the Sun at 7.13pm, while Belfast will see 93.09 per cent at 7.08pm. The rest of the UK will see 90 per cent to 92 per cent coverage, with 91.79 per cent in Birmingham at 7.12pm, 91.41 per cent in London at 7.13pm, 90.74 per cent in Inverness at 7.03pm, 90.71 per cent in Edinburgh at 7.06pm and 90.22 per cent in Newcastle at 7.07pm.
Easternmost areas, such as the coasts of Norfolk, Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire, as well as the Orkney and Shetland Islands, will only get 88 per cent to 90 per cent coverage.
Perseid meteor shower follows
The eclipse takes place just hours before the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which is best viewed between midnight and 5.30am. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, up to 150 meteors an hour could light up the sky.
