When the next solar eclipse is and how much of the Sun will be covered from the UK
The next solar eclipse will see up to 48% of the Sun covered by the Moon from the UK.
People bought solar eclipse glasses to see it, while others used indirect viewing methods such as making a pinhole projector or using a calendar to project the Sun’s image.
If you’ve got eclipse glasses or homemade pinhole viewers you’re unsure what to do with, we’ve taken a look at when the next solar eclipse will be visible in the UK.
What a solar eclipse is
A solar eclipse happens when the Earth, Moon and Sun align. The Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light and casting a small shadow on Earth.
A total solar eclipse is when the Sun is fully covered by the Moon. A partial solar eclipse is when a portion of the Sun is covered by the Moon.
Why it’s important to watch a solar eclipse safely
The Sun appears dimmer than usual during an eclipse. The reduced brightness of the Sun can override the body's natural reflex to look away - allowing intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina. The damage happens without causing pain so you may not realise it’s occurring until too late.
If using eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, make sure they are genuine with specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E). Don’t use the product if you’re unsure it’s certified or if the lenses are scratched, torn or damaged.
You can watch the eclipse indirectly by using 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 simple pinhole projector.
When the next solar eclipse visible from the UK will be
The next solar eclipse visible from the UK will be a partial eclipse at around 10am on 2 August 2027. BBC Sky at Night Magazine says the Scilly Isles will see most of the eclipse at 48%, reducing to 13% for the Shetland Isles.
The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK will not be until 2090, with the only eclipse that’ll come close to total for the British Isles beforehand being September 2081 - when up to 99% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon.