London will experience its most dramatic partial solar eclipse since 1999 on August 12
As excitement builds for next week’s partial solar eclipse, Londoners may be wondering where the best places to view the spectacle will be. This Wednesday (August 12), the Moon will move between the Sun and Earth, momentarily blocking sunlight from reaching us.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory has confirmed this will be the most spectacular solar eclipse witnessed across the UK since 1999, with between 90 and 96 per cent of the Sun obscured by the Moon. Observers in areas of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain will be treated to a total eclipse.
London has been named one of the best viewing spots across the UK, with 90 per cent of the sun set to be obscured. For those hoping to get a good view of the spectacle from the capital, it’s best to head to elevated, open ground.
Best viewpoints for the eclipse in London
Greenwich park itself will undoubtedly be one of the best places to view the partial eclipse. With the Royal Observatory Greenwich sitting at the top of the park, viewers couldn’t be better placed to watch the eclipse with a great atmosphere to match.
Flamstreed Astronomy Society, based at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, is hosting an official event at the site, where experts will be on hand to answer questions and provide more information. It will be free to view the eclipse from Greenwich Park, but to enter the observatory itself for the official event, you will need a ticket. You can purchase tickets on the official website here.
Parliament Hill, with an elevation of 98 metres, will also going to be a brilliant spot to view the eclipse. With expansive views over central London, it’s remarkable enough on a normal day, making it all the better for viewing this impressive celestial event.
Telegraph Hill in South London could be another great choice. At 58m elevation, it’s not quite as high as some of London’s other vantage points, but will still give astronomy fans a prime west-northwest view of the eclipse.
For North Londoners, Primrose Hill is another good choice. At 64m elevation with citywide views, there will no doubt be plenty of eclipse-spotters heading up the hill to capture a glimpse.
In East London, ZipWorld in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, is hosting its own eclipse-viewing event. Taking place at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the event includes expert talks and you can even add the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide experience to your ticket. More information on the event including prices can be found on the ZipWorld website here.
For another unique way to view the eclipse, City Cruises London is offering guests the chance to view the skies from the Thames. Their special eclipse cruise will include views from their open-air viewing decks, as well as drinks, canapés and live entertainment. Guests will also be able to purchase eclipse glasses on board. You can find out more on the City Cruises London website here.
Elsewhere in the UK, areas offering the best opportunities to view the eclipse include Pembrokeshire at 94 per cent coverage, and Cornwall at 95 per cent. Meanwhile, those positioned at the south-western tip of Ireland could witness almost 97.5 per cent coverage, giving it the finest vantage point throughout the British Isles.
According to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, Edinburgh and Glasgow will reach eclipse maximum – the point at which the greatest portion of the Sun is covered – first, at 7.05pm. Galway and Dublin, followed by Manchester and Liverpool, come next at 7.10pm.
Norwich and Birmingham will hit eclipse maximum at 7.11pm, with London, Bristol, and Cardiff following at 7.12pm, and Truro last at 7.16pm. The partial solar eclipse will conclude somewhere between 8pm and 8.10pm, depending on your location, reports the Express.
How to view the eclipse safely
Crucially, the reduced light during an eclipse can mean that the body’s natural impulse to look away from the sun isn’t there, enabling intense sunlight to penetrate and cause lasting retinal damage. This can happen without causing any pain, meaning you may be entirely unaware that harm is being done until it is too late.
Regular sunglasses fail to provide adequate protection and may actually pose greater risks, as the reduced glare creates a false sense of comfort when gazing at the sun for long periods, allowing more harmful radiation to reach the retina.
Purpose-built eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers are the safest method for observing the eclipse. These specialist glasses can be bought from reputable sources such as from Greenwich Observatory. Be cautious with online products that may fall short of required standards.
Why do eclipses happen?
Solar and lunar eclipses can only take place during an ‘eclipse season’ – when the Earth’s orbit draws closest to the Sun. This window lasts between 31 and 37 days and happens twice each year.
When a new Moon appears during this period and circles the Earth at roughly five degrees’ inclination, its shadow can descend upon Earth, creating a solar eclipse. As a result, within a fortnight (provided it remains within the eclipse window), a full Moon will trigger a lunar eclipse. The partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 28.
Given its proximity to sunrise, the Moon will sit increasingly low towards the horizon, meaning you’ll need to identify an elevated location with a clear view towards the southwest for the best vantage point. Once the eclipse commences, it will slowly darken and seem to disappear.
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