On 12 August, a solar eclipse will occur over western Europe. Although the UK sits just outside the full path of totality, many parts of the country will experience between 89 per cent and 96 per cent coverage of the Sun, meaning even those who cannot travel abroad will still witness a spectacular partial eclipse here at home.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow across a portion of the Earth’s surface and obscuring the Sun’s light for a few minutes.
The next total solar eclipse over the UK will not happen until 23 September 2090, so Scotland’s Astronomer Royal, Catherine Heymans, recommends everyone try to get outside and view this year’s event if they can. “To experience celestial motion in real-time, witnessing the rare brief moment when you, the Moon and the Sun, are all in perfect alignment – well, that feels just magical,” she says.
This year’s eclipse occurs in the evening, starting at around 6.15pm and ending a little after 8pm. This means the Sun will be very close to setting, so you’ll need to be up high or on a shoreline with an open view of the low western horizon.
The excitement doesn’t end at sunset, though, as this year’s eclipse occurs during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, offering the best chance of the year to see shooting stars after dark.
