How You Can See The Solar Eclipse This Week
The solar eclipse taking place on the 12th of August is set to be the best and brightest of the century so far
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, resulting in the sun’s light being blocked partially or fully. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the UK will see a partial eclipse, where a portion of the sun is covered by the moon, and at around 90 percent, this is as close to a total eclipse we’ve seen from the British Isles in almost 27 years.
When to Watch and Where to Look
The timings of the eclipse will vary slightly across the UK, with Edinburgh and Glasgow most likely to see first contact at 6.08pm, and Leeds and Manchester at 6.12pm. If you're looking to witness the first contact any time between 6pm and 6.20pm is the best window. The peak of the eclipse, where the moon covers most of the sun, will be between 7pm and 7.20pm.
In order to get the best view, try facing in the west to north west direction, as the eclipse will appear low to the horizon as the sun sets.
Get Involved in a Local Event
If you're in the North East there are some great opportunities to get involved in events where you can watch the eclipse. Ingram Village Hall in Northumberland will have a public outdoor viewing session with specialist solar equipment handled by an expert astronomer. Another watch party is taking place in Tynemouth, with a relaxed community skywatch at The Collingwood Monument.
Large open spaces on high ground make a great viewing point. Spots including Newcastle’s Town Moor, or locations on Hadrians Wall, such as Walltown Crags, are perfect.
The University of York is also holding a special event, where there’ll be a talk from astrophysicist Dr Emily Brunsden, and safe eclipse viewing using specialist solar telescopes and solar glasses. Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society are also hosting a special meeting for the event at Oliver’s Mount, with specially-filtered solar telescopes to watch the eclipse.
In the North West, you can join Blackpool & South Fylde Methodist Churches for a free community picnic celebrating the partial solar eclipse at Fairhaven Lake, near the Spitfire Memorial.
How To Watch Safely
According to gov.uk, during an eclipse, the sun can appear dimmer than usual. This makes it easier to look at directly – but you still shouldn’t do it! The reduced brightness can override the body’s natural reflex to look away, allowing intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina. This damage happens without causing any pain, so you may not realise the harm until it’s too late.
One way to keep yourself safe is using eclipse glasses to avoid looking directly into the eclipse, or alternatively watch Royal Observatory Greenwich’s live stream to protect your eyes even further. Another fun way to experience it is by making a pinhole projector beforehand. This will allow you to watch the eclipse by projecting the sun’s light onto another surface. These can easily be made from leaves, paper or even a colander.
