A partial solar eclipse is set to be visible across the entire UK on Wednesday, August 12. This celestial event will see the moon cover approximately 90 per cent of the sun, making it the most extensive coverage seen in the UK and Ireland since 1999.
The eclipse will begin in London at 6:17 pm, with the moon slowly moving in front of the sun. The maximum coverage will occur at various times across the UK, including 7:05 pm in Edinburgh and Glasgow, 7:10 pm in Manchester and Liverpool, 7:11 pm in Norwich and Birmingham, 7:12 pm in London, and 7:16 pm in Cornwall.
While the eclipse will be visible nationwide, those in the southwest of England are most likely to experience the greatest proportion of the sun covered. Viewers in parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy, will also see significant coverage, while a total eclipse will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain.
The UK Health Security Agency advises two safe methods for viewing the eclipse: using genuine eclipse glasses with specially designed filters that meet international safety standards, or employing indirect viewing methods such as a homemade pinhole viewer, a colander, or a simple pinhole projector.