A nearly total solar eclipse will be visible in the United Kingdom on August 12
On the evening of August 12, residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland will be able to witness a solar eclipse during which the Moon will cover between 90% and 96% of the Sun’s disk. This will be the first eclipse of this magnitude for these countries since 1999, and the next such opportunity will not occur until 2081, according to The Guardian.
The Moon will cover the largest portion of the Sun in the west of Great Britain: 95% in Plymouth, 93.2% in Cardiff, and 93.1% in Belfast. In Manchester, the eclipse will reach 91.9%; in London, 91.4%; in Edinburgh, 90.7%; and in Newcastle, 90.2%. The lowest percentage is forecast for the Shetland Islands—88%.
The eclipse will begin at approximately 6:08 p.m. in Edinburgh and Glasgow, at 6:10 p.m. in Belfast, at 6:13 p.m. in Manchester and Liverpool, at 6:15 p.m. in Birmingham, at 6:17 p.m. in London, and at 6:18 p.m. in Cornwall. The maximum phase will occur approximately one hour later, and the event will end around 8:00 p.m.
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Jess Lee, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, recommended choosing high ground or other locations with an unobstructed view of the western horizon. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan noted that the chances of clear skies are higher in August, although heavy cloud cover and rain are possible in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The clearest skies are currently expected in the south and east of the country.
Looking directly at the Sun without special protection is dangerous even during an eclipse, when it appears less bright: solar radiation can damage the retina without causing pain. The UK Health Security Agency advises using genuine eclipse glasses or handheld solar visors from a reputable retailer. Their filters must comply with the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) standard and be free of scratches, tears, or other damage. Regular sunglasses are not suitable for this purpose.
An alternative is to observe the Sun’s projection indirectly through a hole in a piece of cardboard, a colander, or gaps between tree leaves. A total solar eclipse lasting up to two minutes and 18 seconds will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. In northwestern Europe, the Moon will cover approximately 88% to 95% of the Sun’s disk.
