A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the South West and Channel Islands today, with timings varying slightly by location. In Devon and Cornwall, the eclipse is expected to begin at approximately 18:18 BST, reach its peak at 19:15, and conclude around 20:10. For Guernsey and Jersey, the timings are estimated to be 18:21, 19:17, and 20:10 respectively.
Organisers are stressing the importance of safe viewing, warning that looking directly at the sun can cause serious and permanent eye damage. Dr Jean Dean from La Société Guernesiaise's astronomy section advised using eclipse glasses or projecting the sun's image onto a piece of card. She also cautioned against using eclipse glasses with other optical equipment like binoculars.
A range of events, both free and ticketed, are planned to assist the public in safely observing the eclipse. These include gatherings at the Cosmos Community Observatory on the Isles of Scilly, the National Trust car park at Carnewas in Cornwall, and Lowery Cross near Yelverton in Devon. The Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth and the Poltimore Inn in North Molton are also hosting ticketed events.