Witness the Majestic Solar Eclipse Unfold
DATE : 12 August 2026 LOCATION : UK
On 12 August 2026 the UK will be treated to a partial solar eclipse. It takes place when the Sun is low in the west just before sunset so you will definitely need a low, clear horizon to see it. Exact timings will vary by a few minutes depending on location but from central UK the eclipse will;
Start : 18:13 BST
Mid Eclipse : 19:10 BST
End : 20:03 BST
How to Safely Observe the Eclipse
You cannot look at a partial eclipse safely with the naked eye
Not briefly, not through sunglasses, not through smoked glass, not through a phone screen, and not “just for a second”. Even a tiny sliver of Sun remaining is overwhelmingly bright, and the damage it does is painless and permanent and usually instant!
Use certified eclipse glasses
They must be marked ISO 12312-2. Buy from a reputable astronomy retailer rather than a marketplace listing. Every eclipse brings a flood of uncertified stock, and you can’t tell the difference by looking at them but you can trust the products found from these suppliers
Altair AstroWidescreen Centre
First Light Optics
Don’t use an unfiltered telescope or binoculars
A proper solar filter must be fitted over the front of the instrument, never one that screws into the eyepiece. Concentrated sunlight through unfiltered optics causes injury instantly. There are safe methods where telescopes can be used for projection but these should only be attempted by those who know what they are doing.
The safest method costs nothing
Pinhole projection is the safest method. Make a small hole in a piece of card, stand with your back to the Sun, and let the light fall through the hole and onto a second piece of card. You’ll see the crescent Sun projected on it. A kitchen colander works beautifully and gives you dozens at once.
This is what MIGHT happen…
If you try to look at the partially eclipsed Sun through even a small telescope then you risk damage to your eye! I tested this with a pigs eye a few years ago with quite dramatic effects on the cornea and retina! Check this out and don’t let this be your eye!
Understanding the Eclipse
Solar eclipses take place when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun. If the Sun is completely obscured we see a total solar eclipse but if only some of the Sun is blocked from view we see a partial solar eclipse. A partial eclipse is will be visible from UK on 12th August when 80%-96% of the Sun will be blocked from view, dependent on your location.
Image Credit : NASA
Join me on 10th August
I’m running an online talk two evenings before, covering all of this properly — what you’ll see, how the geometry works and how to do it safely. There’ll be plenty of time for questions too.