A unique solar eclipse is set to grace the skies over the United Kingdom and a significant part of Europe in the upcoming month. On Wednesday, August 12, a rare celestial event will occur, with millions in the UK anticipating the disappearance of up to 90% of the sun due to the moon passing directly between the Earth and the sun. This eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 1999, casting parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain, and a small section of Portugal into temporary darkness.
Although the UK will not witness a total eclipse, a substantial portion of the sun will still be obscured from view across most of the country. The phenomenon occurs when the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking its light partially or completely.
The event will mark the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe since 1999, offering viewers in the UK and Ireland a glimpse of a partial eclipse where the moon will seem to take a significant bite out of the sun. The eclipse will commence with the moon’s initial contact with the sun, progress to its maximum coverage, and conclude as the moon gradually moves away.
Unlike other countries experiencing complete darkness during the eclipse, the UK will not be fully plunged into darkness as the sun will not be entirely obscured. However, a noticeable decrease in brightness and temperature is expected as a considerable amount of sunlight will be blocked, as noted by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
Depending on the clarity of the skies, daylight may briefly resemble either dusk or dawn. The effect will be most pronounced in the southwest, where a larger portion of the sun will be covered. Projections indicate around 90% coverage in London, approximately 95% in Cornwall, and almost 97.7% coverage in the southwestern tip of Ireland. Other regions in Europe, Canada, and northwestern Africa will also witness a partial eclipse.
The eclipse will commence in the UK in the early evening of Wednesday, August 12. Observers will witness the moon gradually covering the sun before reaching maximum coverage and then receding. Timing will vary depending on the viewing location.
For those seeking complete darkness, traveling overseas will be necessary, as the path of totality will begin over Greenland, traverse Iceland, and end in northern Spain and the Balearic Islands. A remote section of northern Russia will also experience a total eclipse.
NASA predicts that totality will occur around midday in northern Russia and during late afternoon or early evening in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and the northwestern tip of Portugal. Most individuals along the eclipse path will experience totality for less than two minutes, with those closest to the center in Greenland, Russia, or the North Atlantic experiencing it for approximately two-and-a-half minutes.
It is unsafe to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection during the eclipse. Viewing the sun during a partial eclipse can lead to severe and permanent eye damage. The only safe time to view without protection is during totality, which will not occur in the UK. Viewers are advised to use certified eclipse glasses, significantly darker than regular sunglasses, to safeguard their eyes.
Additionally, individuals capturing the eclipse through photography should utilize certified solar filters on their cameras or telephoto lenses. Those missing the upcoming event will have to wait until 2090 for the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK. Spain will have another opportunity sooner, with a total eclipse set for August 2, 2027, followed by total eclipses across various regions over the next two decades.