How and when to see August's partial solar eclipse in the UK
Watch: BBC Science editor Rebeca Morelle explains all you need to know about the solar eclipse
- Published
On Wednesday 12 August 2026, many countries across Europe including Spain and Iceland will experience a total solar eclipse.
This happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun completely blocking its light, causing the sky to go dark.
In the UK and Ireland, a partial solar eclipse will take place - meaning the the Moon will cover part of the Sun.
August's eclipse will be the closest the UK has been to total coverage of the sun for 27 years.
As exciting as astrological moments like this are, there are warnings from experts about how to watch safely.
Important: Do NOT look directly at the sun as it can cause permanent damage to your eyes.
Read on to find out how to watch it safely.
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How can I watch the eclipse safely?
It's VERY important to make sure you view eclipses safely
It's important to never look directly at the Sun, even for a short amount of time, as it could permanently damage your eyes.
Sunglasses do not offer good enough protection either.
So here are a few ways you can see the eclipse.
Ask your parents or an adult you trust about special protective eclipse glasses. They are selling out fast across the UK, but there have been warnings of fake eclipse glasses which do not give the right protection against harmful rays. Buy them from well-known stores and ask an adult to check it has a safety code "ISO 12312-2 certified" on them.
Use a pinhole camera - you can even make your own. Scroll down for video instructions.
Use a colander from your kitchen cupboards. Hold it over a piece of white paper to see lots of tiny projections of the sun.
Watch Newsround on Thursday! We will bring you all the latest pictures from the eclipse so you won't miss out.
How to make a pinhole camera
Watch: Jenny makes a homemade pinhole camera
A pinhole camera projects the light from the Sun onto a piece of card inside a box, where you'll be able to see the outline of the Sun as the moon crosses it.
If you do make one, make sure to stand with your back to the Sun, allowing the light to project through the pinhole for you to view safely inside the box.
Will you be watching the eclipse? Let us know in the comments below!
What is a solar eclipse?
Progression of a partial solar eclipse
A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and blocks its light.
It's a special cosmic event where the Sun, Moon and Earth all have to line up to for it to happen.
Depending on how they line up, there are different types of eclipse that are visible from the Earth:
A partial eclipse, which will happen across the UK on 12 August, is when the Moon only covers part of the Sun.
A total eclipse is when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon, causing the sky to go dark.
An annular eclipse, is where the Moon is in front of the Sun, but is too far away from the Earth to completely block it.
Where can I see the 2026 solar eclipse in the UK?
The solid red line shows the path of the total eclipse. Elsewhere on the map, the darker the pink colour, the more of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.
On this occasion, around 90% or more of the sun will be covered by the Moon in the UK.
There won't be a full eclipse in the UK as the path of totality passes at sea off the south-west coast.
Depending on where you are in the country, it will peak between 19:02 and 19:16 in the evening.
If the skies stay clear of clouds, the very best views of this partial eclipse will be in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, where around 95% of the sun's light will be blocked by the Moon.
The further west you are in the UK, the more of the Sun you'll see covered.
More than 94% of the Sun will be covered in the Channel Islands, while cities such as Belfast and Cardiff will see 93% covered by the Moon.
London, Manchester and Birmingham will have around 91% of the Sun covered by the Moon.
More eastern cities across the UK - such as Edinburgh, Hull, Newcastle and Norwich - will see around 90% coverage.
