The UK will see its most complete solar eclipse in over a quarter of a century on August 12.
The phenomenon means the moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light almost entirely.
It is estimated that around 90% of the sun will be covered by the moon, triggering a rare and stunning natural phenomenon.
There won’t be a better eclipse in Britain until 2090, so you won’t want to miss this one.
But the phenomenon is not without its risks and Londoners should take care as they try to catch a glimpse.
Here is everything you need to know about the solar eclipse:
What is a solar eclipse?
Eclipses occur when the moon blocks the sun, roughly every six months. Though the sun is some 400 times larger than the moon, it is 400 times further away.
However, this year is different, as the moon will almost entirely block the sun.
When is the solar eclipse?
This year’s solar eclipse will begin at 6:17pm on August 12 for those based in London, Bristol, and Cardiff.
The height of the eclipse is expected at 7:13pm for Londoners and it will last around 1 hour and 49 minutes until 8:06pm.
For those in Manchester and Liverpool, the eclipse will commence at 6:13pm, while for those in Scotland, the eclipse will begin closer to 6:08pm.
Some European countries, like Greenland and Iceland, are set to experience a total eclipse.
How to watch the eclipse safely
Partial solar eclipses carry more risks than total solar eclipses, because the latter involves the sun being entirely covered, albeit only briefly.
During a partial solar eclipse, it is never safe to look at the sun without eye protection, even though it looks as though it is being blocked by the moon.
Regular sunglasses don’t quite cut it for protecting your eyes and those who want to gaze at the sky will need to buy approved solar glasses.
This means the shades need to have an ISO 12312-2 international safety rating and an optical density of at least 5.0.
Alternatively, the Royal Observatory is livestreaming the eclipse for free so you can watch safely.
You can also check with your local astronomical society to see if they’re running any eclipse-viewing events on August 12 or you can build your own pinhole projector.
Where to watch the solar eclipse in London
There are plenty of apps which will help you find the clearest possible view of the eclipse, including Eclipse Horizon Checker.
But the general rule of thumb is that high vantage points in elevated spots like Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park will be the best place to secure a view.
