Solar eclipse 2026: Exact times to be in position to see biggest partial solar eclipse in 27 years and how long it will last

This week astronomy enthusiasts will get to see the biggest partial solar eclipse in 27 years across various areas of the UK - here’s everything you need to know.

A partial solar eclipse will be observable across the UK on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and will be the deepest eclipse since 1999.

The moon is set to cover around 90 per cent of the sun in parts of the UK - making it a rare event that many people will be eager to watch.

Observers should also be aware that looking directly at a solar eclipse without the right protection can cause permanent damage to your eyesight. The safety measures one should take are published on the gov.uk website.

In the UK, the clearest views are expected to be seen in the South West of England and parts of western Britain.

However, areas in Yorkshire are also expected to get a dramatic view of the astronomical event including Sheffield, Buckden Pike and Tan Hill Inn.

Exact times of biggest partial solar eclipse in 27 years

The Royal Observatory Greenwich predicts that the eclipse will begin in London at around 6.17pm, reaching its peak at approximately 7.12pm.

The greatest eclipse - most dramatic views of the moon blocking the sun - is set to take place between 6.13pm and 8.03pm in Sheffield.

To get the best view of the eclipse, you would need to be positioned at an elevated location with an unobstructed view to the West.

How to stay safe during an eclipse

During an eclipse, the sun appears dimmer than usual and it makes it easier to look at directly which poses a problem; the reduced brightness can overshadow the body’s natural reflex to look away, which allows the intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina.

This damage is dormant and painless, so it is not noticeable that you are causing harm to your eyes until it is too late.

Ordinary sunglasses do not protect you from an eclipse as they do not provide adequate protection; they reduce glare but continue to allow harmful solar radiation to reach the retina.

According to the government website, there are two safety approaches: specialist eclipse viewers or indirect viewing methods.

There are specialist eclipse glasses you can obtain or handheld solar viewers. They must be genuine eclipse glasses with specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E). Don’t use eclipse glasses if the lenses are scratched, torn or damaged.

You can alternatively watch the eclipse indirectly without any specialist equipment via either a pinhole viewer, which you can make at home, viewing the sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves or projecting the sun’s image onto a sheet of paper using a pinhole projector.