What time is the solar eclipse in the UK? When to watch the August 12 eclipse live and how long it will last

THE UK is set to experience the best solar eclipse in almost 30 years this month, with over 96% of the Sun set to be covered by the Moon. You had better enjoy the incredible spectacle when it happens as it’s expected to be the UK’s biggest eclipse for another 55 years. So when exactly will the celestial show take place? The UK is set to experience its best solar eclipse in almost three decades this month Credit: Alamy But when exactly will the eclipse take place? Credit: Getty What time is the solar eclipse in the UK? The solar eclipse is set to take place on the evening of Wednesday, 12 August. Although visible only as a partial eclipse across the UK, this event marks the country’s deepest solar alignment since 1999 – and its most significant until 2081. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! The path of totality, where the Moon completely blocks the Sun, will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, passing off the western coast of Britain. While the Sun won’t be entirely covered from a UK vantage point, some regions will see up to 96% coverage, making for a dramatic spectacle. Peak eclipse will occur between 7.05pm and 7.13pm, depending on your location: Belfast: 93.1% Greatest eclipse – 7.08pm Birmingham: 91.8% Greatest eclipse – 7.11pm Cardiff: 93.2% Greatest eclipse – 7.13pm Edinburgh: 90.7% Greatest eclipse – 7.05pm Glasgow: 91.4% Greatest eclipse – 7.06pm Leeds: 90.8% Greatest eclipse – 7.09pm Liverpool: 91.8% Greatest eclipse – 7.10pm London: 91.4% Greatest eclipse – 7.13pm Manchester: 91.4% Greatest eclipse – 7.10pm Sheffield: 91% Greatest eclipse – 7.10pm The path of totality will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain Credit: Getty The point of greatest eclipse will take place between 7.05pm and 7.13pm, depending on where you are in the UK Credit: Getty The further west and south-west you travel, the deeper the eclipse will be – peaking at 96.5% coverage in the Isles of Scilly. Because the event occurs in the late evening, the Sun will sit low in the sky, 13 to 16 degrees above the west-northwest horizon at peak eclipse. Most read in Science This will make locations like beaches, cliffs, hilltops, and other areas with unobstructed views facing west the ideal places to view the eclipse. Be sure never to look at the eclipsed Sun without using ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses or proper solar filters if using cameras, telescopes or binoculars. The Moon is set to cover 96.5% of the Sun’s disc in the Isles of Scilly Credit: AFP If you plan on watching the eclipse, you must wear ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses Credit: EPA For a safe alternative to eclipse glasses, stand with your back to the Sun and use a kitchen colander to project dozens of crescent-shaped solar shadows onto the ground or a piece of card. How long will the solar eclipse last? The duration of the eclipse will vary depending on your location. In London, the entire event spans one hour and 49 minutes, running from 6.17pm to 8.06pm. Across the UK, the partial eclipse begins shortly after 6pm and wraps up around 8pm, with peak coverage occurring between 7.05pm and 7.13pm. But this moment of maximum obscuration is fleeting, lasting only a brief instant before the Moon moves on and full sunlight begins to return. Following the solar eclipse, attention will turn to the annual Perseid meteor shower, which will reach its peak overnight on August 12 to 13, creating one of the best nights of the year for sky watching. Comment now