The best place to spot the partial solar eclipse has been revealed. Next Wednesday (August 12), the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth, briefly blocking sunlight from reaching us.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has said it will be the most dramatic solar eclipse in the UK since 1999, with between 90 and 96% of the Sun obscured by the Moon. Spectators in parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain will be treated to a total eclipse.
The best spots in the UK are London at 90%, Pembrokeshire at 94%, and Cornwall at 95%. Those on the south-western tip of Ireland might see almost 97.5% coverage, making it the best spot in the British Isles.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has said that Edinburgh and Glasgow will reach the eclipse maximum (when most of the Sun is covered) first, at 7.05pm. Galway and Dublin, and Manchester and Liverpool come next, at 7.10pm.
Norwich and Birmingham will reach eclipse maximum at 7.11pm, London, Bristol, and Cardiff at 7.12pm, and Truro last at 7.16pm. The partial solar eclipse will be over by between 8pm and 8.10pm, depending on location.
The dim light of an eclipse can bypass the body’s instinctive urge to look away, allowing powerful sunlight to penetrate and damage the retina. The injury occurs painlessly, meaning you might not recognise that damage is taking place until it’s already happened.
Standard sunglasses don’t offer sufficient protection and could actually prove more dangerous, as the decreased glare will make staring at the Sun feel more comfortable for extended periods, allowing more damaging radiation to penetrate the retina.
Purpose-made eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers are the safest way to view the eclipse. These glasses can be purchased from trusted retailers, though beware of online products which fail to meet standards.
Solar and lunar eclipses can only occur during an ‘eclipse season’ – when the Earth’s orbit is nearest to the Sun. This lasts between 31 and 37 days and occurs twice annually.
When a new Moon occurs during this timeframe and orbits the Earth at an angle of approximately five degrees, its shadow can fall on Earth, producing a solar eclipse.
Then, in two weeks (if still within the eclipse window), a full Moon will result in a lunar eclipse. The partial lunar eclipse will be on August 28.
Due to how near it is to dawn, the Moon will be progressively low on the horizon, so you’ll need to locate an elevated spot with an unobstructed view to the southwest for the optimal view. Once the eclipse starts, it will gradually dim and appear to vanish.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
