Where in the UK will get the best view of the solar eclipse?
When, where and how to get the optimal view of the first solar eclipse to be visible across the country this century For the first time this century, people across the UK will be able to see an almost total solar eclipse in the evening sky on Wednesday. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light either partly or fully. This year, people in…
The first solar eclipse to be visible across the UK this century will occur on Wednesday evening, with observers in the west seeing the most of the sun obscured. In Plymouth, 95% of the sun will be covered, while Cardiff and Belfast will see 93.2% and 93.1% coverage respectively. Further north and east, Edinburgh will see 90.7% and Newcastle 90.2%.
Shetland will have the lowest coverage at 88%. The Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Jess Lee noted that these differences are small, but still impressive. To get the best view, consider finding hills with clear views to the west, such as Parliament Hill, Alexandra Palace, or Primrose Hill in London. Higher points with a clear horizon also help.
Eclipse glasses are a must to avoid damaging the retina, as solar radiation can still reach even during an eclipse. The eclipse starts at different times across the UK, with maximum eclipse occurring roughly an hour after, ending around 8pm.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
