Britain will witness the most significant solar eclipse of the century on Wednesday, visible across the entire nation. To help you catch this remarkable celestial event at the optimum moment in your location, we offer an interactive postcode search tool. Simply enter your postcode to find out exactly when the moon will begin its transit across the sun from your garden, as well as the timing of the eclipse’s peak coverage in your area.
At the peak of the eclipse, over 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon across the UK, around 7pm. The lunar shadow will swiftly move from northern Scotland down to Cornwall’s Land’s End in just 15 minutes, crossing the country at nearly 2,500 miles per hour. Our postcode tool ensures you will know the exact moment to look skyward as the phenomenon passes overhead.
While some areas of Spain will experience a total eclipse, British observers will not. It is important to remember that looking directly at the sun remains dangerous even when more than 90% of it is covered. The only safe ways to view the eclipse are through solar eclipse glasses or specialised telescopes. Alternatively, you can project the eclipse safely using a pinhole or household items such as a colander with multiple holes.
READ MORE: Bat Mitigation Concerns May Delay £19.7 Million Bridgwater Health Academy Project
READ MORE: Eight Months of Roadworks Planned for New Junction Near Somerset Secondary School
This solar eclipse will be the best visible in Britain for the next 54 years, with excitement so high that shops and online retailers have sold out of eclipse glasses. According to the latest Met Office forecasts, most of England and Wales should enjoy clear skies on Wednesday evening, under temperatures expected to exceed 30°C across many regions.
However, cloud cover is expected across much of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as parts of North East England and Cumbria. Depending on cloud thickness, the eclipse may still be visible in these areas.
The prime locations for viewing are in the far south-west of Devon and Cornwall, where up to 96% of the sun will be blocked. Other areas such as Wales, Northern Ireland, the West Midlands, South West England, and western Scotland can expect between 92% and 94% solar coverage.
For example, in Cardiff, 93.24% of the sun will be covered at 7.13pm, while in Belfast the coverage will be 93.09% at 7.08pm. Eastern regions including the coasts of Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Aberdeenshire will see slightly less coverage but still over 90%. The Royal Greenwich Observatory warns that ordinary sunglasses offer no protection during the eclipse.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, advised: “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% coverage is really exciting. We won’t see one this good for a very long time. It’s important not to miss it and to be prepared. Looking at the sun without proper protection is dangerous.”
She recommends using certified solar eclipse glasses or solar telescopes. Local astronomy societies may also hold public viewing events. Alternatively, projecting the sun’s image through a colander’s holes onto a shaded surface is a safe and fascinating way to observe the eclipse.
The next time the moon will cover this much of the sun in Britain will be in 2081, with the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK occurring in 2090. Ms Bell suggests finding a vantage point facing west with few buildings around for the best view. “You might notice the sky darkening slightly,” she explained, “and if you look safely, the sun will appear as if the moon has taken a bite out, resembling a crescent.”
Make sure to use our postcode tool to catch the precise eclipse timings in Somerset and across Britain on this unmissable astronomical occasion.