UK to See Best Solar Eclipse Since 1999 as Moon Covers Up to 96% of Sun

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The UK is set to experience its deepest solar eclipse since 1999 on Wednesday evening, with more than 90 percent of the Sun expected to be obscured across much of the country.

The eclipse will be visible throughout the UK, although the extent of coverage will vary by location. The deepest eclipse will occur in parts of southwest England and Wales, where up to 96 percent of the Sun's disc will be covered by the Moon.

A total solar eclipse, meanwhile, will be visible along a narrow path across northern Spain, as well as parts of Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Portugal.

With hundreds of thousands of people expected to gather in northern Spain for the event, the eclipse is one of the most anticipated astronomical spectacles of 2026.

When Will the Solar Eclipse Peak in the UK?

In the UK, the eclipse will reach its maximum between 6:58 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. British Summer Time (BST), depending on location.

Devon, Cornwall and western Pembrokeshire in Wales will experience the deepest eclipse, with 94 to 96 percent of the Sun obscured.

Other parts of Wales, Northern Ireland, the West Midlands, southwest England and western Scotland will see 92 to 94 percent coverage.

The eclipse will be less extensive farther east but will remain visible across the entire UK.

The event is expected to be the deepest solar eclipse visible from the British Isles until 2081. The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK will not occur until 2090.

Where Will the Total Solar Eclipse Be Visible?

Unlike the UK, where only a partial eclipse will occur, observers along the path of totality will see the Moon completely cover the Sun.

The path will cross northern Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Greenland and parts of Russia.

In Spain, the total eclipse will peak between 8:26 p.m. and 8:33 p.m. local time, or 7:26 p.m. to 7:33 p.m. BST, depending on the location.

Cities including Bilbao, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca are expected to have clear skies for the event. Barcelona and Madrid will see more than 99 percent of the Sun covered.

Northern Spain is expected to attract huge crowds, with the Spanish Finance Ministry estimating that about 500,000 visitors will travel to the region for the eclipse.

For those in the path of totality, the Moon will completely block the Sun for roughly one to two minutes, turning daytime skies dark.

What Happens During a Total Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun align, with the Moon passing between Earth and the Sun and blocking some or all of the sunlight.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only part of the Sun. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun for observers within the narrow path of totality.

During totality, the sky darkens and the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, becomes visible as a pearly-white halo around the Moon.

The corona consists of extremely hot plasma extending millions of miles into space. It is normally invisible because its light is more than a million times fainter than the Sun's surface.

A thin, pinkish layer of the Sun's atmosphere called the chromosphere may also become visible around the edge of the Moon during the early and final stages of totality.

What Will the Weather Be Like in the UK?

Weather conditions could determine how much of the eclipse is visible.

Much of the UK is expected to have sufficiently clear skies for viewing. However, cloud could move into parts of northern Wales, northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland between about 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Parts of western Scotland and northern and western Northern Ireland could also experience rain.

Those hoping to watch the eclipse should therefore find an unobstructed view of the sky while also checking local weather forecasts before heading outside.

How Can You Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely?

Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.

Ordinary sunglasses, welding goggles and viewing the Sun through a phone camera do not provide adequate protection.

The safest option is to use certified solar eclipse glasses designed specifically for viewing the Sun.

Binoculars and telescopes should only be used with specially designed solar filters securely fitted to the front of the equipment. Looking through unfiltered optical equipment at the Sun can cause severe eye injury.

Another option is to use a simple pinhole projector, which allows the eclipse to be viewed indirectly.

To make one, create a small hole of about 3 millimeters in a piece of paper or card. With your back to the Sun, allow sunlight to pass through the hole and project the image onto another piece of white paper or card.

A colander or draining spoon can also create multiple small projections of the eclipsed Sun.

Can You See the Perseid Meteor Shower During the Eclipse?

The solar eclipse coincides with the annual Perseid meteor shower, which reaches its peak around Aug. 12-13.

The darkened sky during totality could theoretically provide a brief opportunity to see a meteor, but only observers within the path of totality will experience the darkness needed for such a possibility.

Even in northern Spain, where the eclipse will be total, the chances of seeing a Perseid meteor during totality are extremely low.

Royal Astronomical Society research fellow Dr. Becky Smethurst said observers would have to be "very, very lucky" to see a shooting star during the brief period of totality.

The Perseids will nevertheless remain visible after dark, offering another celestial spectacle for skywatchers.

When Will the UK See Another Deep or Total Eclipse?

The UK will have to wait decades for another eclipse of comparable depth.

The next time the Moon will cover as much of the Sun over the British Isles is expected in 2081.

The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is not due until 2090.

That makes Wednesday's event particularly significant for British skywatchers, even though the country will remain outside the path of totality.

For observers in northern Spain and other locations along the path of totality, however, the event offers the much rarer experience of seeing the Sun disappear completely behind the Moon.

Read: Solar Eclipse to Peak in August 12-13: When to Watch in the US and Canada

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