What time is the solar eclipse and when is the next?

On Wednesday (August 12), up to 96% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon.

It will offer the best eclipse in the UK since 1999, when an eclipse was visible in parts of Devon and Cornwall.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s light.

What time will the solar eclipse be in the UK?

What time the solar eclipse will peak will depend on where you are in the UK, but it will be somewhere between 7.02pm and 7.16pm.

Here are the estimated eclipse times for areas across the UK, according to the RMG:

• Edinburgh and Glasgow – begin at 6.08pm, peak at 7.05pm, end at 8pm
• Manchester and Liverpool – begin at 6.13pm, peak at 7.10pm,  end at 8.03-04pm
• Norwich and Birmingham – begin at 6.15pm, peak at 7.11pm, end at 8.04pm 
• London, Bristol and Cardiff – begin at 6.17pm, peak at 7.12pm, end at 8.06pm
• Truro, Cornwall – begin at 6.18pm, peak at 7.16pm, end at 8.10pm

At its peak, enough of the Sun will be covered to make a noticeable difference in the temperature and light levels.

However, unlike with a total eclipse, the sky will not become dark – it will feel more like a cloudy day or close to dusk or dawn.

When is the next solar eclipse in the UK?

Many will be watching the rare event this week, as another total solar eclipse will not be visible from the UK again until 2090.

The closest approach before then will be on September 3, 2081, when up to 99% of the Sun will be covered, with southern areas once again expected to have the best view.

There will be other notable partial eclipses in the coming decades:

• 2030 – 50% coverage
• 2053 – 40% coverage
• 2066 – 60% coverage
• 2075 – 70% coverage
• 2082 – 70% coverage
• 2088 – 40% coverage

Despite this, people in the UK can enjoy a lunar eclipse in the coming weeks.

Solar eclipses are always paired with lunar eclipses, occurring two weeks before or after each other as part of a regular celestial cycle, the Royal Museums Greenwich explains.

On Friday, August 28, a deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK, though under less convenient timing.

A lunar eclipse will follow in the coming weeks (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The eclipse will start at 3.33am, reaching its peak at 5.12am.

Around 90% of the Moon will fall within the Earth’s umbra, or darkest shadow.

At maximum eclipse, the Moon will appear red as it is illuminated by sunlight filtered and scattered through the Earth’s atmosphere—a phenomenon often called a “blood moon.”

How to safely watch the solar eclipse

To watch the solar eclipse, you can use certified solar eclipse glasses, through a solar telescope, or by watching an official live stream.

You can also make a pinhole projector, which can be done at home.

You can buy certified solar eclipse glasses in the UK from reputable astronomy retailers, specialised online distributors, or general online marketplaces such as Amazon UK.

However, many retailers are seeing shortages in stock as people across the country rush to secure them ahead of the event on Wednesday evening.

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People have been warned not to look at the eclipse without glasses, as they block out the Sun’s harmful rays.

Regular sunglasses are not safe to use, as they don’t have adequate UV protection to protect your eyesight.

Adequate glasses should have safety certification ‘ISO 12312-2′ or ‘ISO 12312-2:2015’ printed somewhere on them.

How will you be watching the solar eclipse this week? Let us know in the comments.