A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK today, with the Met Office confirming the best spots to watch it. While the UK will not see a total eclipse, it will be the deepest one until 2081, with the next total solar eclipse in the UK not occurring until 2090.
Timings and viewing
The eclipse will occur between 6pm and 8pm, peaking around 7.10pm, though exact timings will vary depending on location. The Met Office has released an infographic showing peak times, and the website timeanddate.com offers more precise timings for specific locations.
Solar eclipse glasses have largely sold out online, leading to expected long queues at the few places still offering them.
Best places to watch
The UK is narrowly out of the path of totality, meaning the moon will not completely cover the sun as it will in northern Spain or Greenland. Two stargazing experts have provided guidance on the best UK viewing spots.
Frequency of eclipses
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon slides between Earth and the sun, a result of the moon being about 400 times smaller than the sun but 400 times closer. Partial solar eclipses occur two to five times a year, while total ones are rarer, with only 66 in the last century. Lunar eclipses, when Earth is between the moon and the sun, can be observed once or twice a year.
