(Image: Jordan Pettitt)
STARGAZERS could be in for a treat if the weather holds out with North Yorkshire sites among the top in the country to see the eclipse.
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors have been named among the top dark sky locations in England to view a rare partial solar eclipse- expected to take place this evening (August 12) between approximately 18:12 and 18:19 BST.
The peak of the eclipse will occur about an hour later, with the whole event ending just after 20:00, before the sun finally sets.
Pitchup.com, which analysed forecast cloud cover to identify the UK’s best viewing spots, said the Yorkshire Dales National Park will see cloud cover of 75 per cent and the North York Moors National Park is expected to see 77 per cent.
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Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, said: "The growing interest in dark skies and the solar eclipse shows just how popular astrotourism has become.
"More travellers are looking for experiences that help them switch off, spend time in nature and enjoy something memorable under the open sky. Camping is a natural fit for this kind of trip.
"It gives people the chance to stay close to some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes, from forests and moorland to coastlines and national parks, while making the most of the evening and night rather than heading straight home."
Topping the list for best places to see the sky are Galloway Forest Park in Scotland at 53 per cent and West Penwith in Cornwall at 56 per cent.
Other nearby destinations on the list include Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park.
The eclipse will be visible across the UK during the evening and coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.