Why didn’t I see the solar eclipse? The reasons that might have stopped you witnessing it in your area

SOME Brits who headed outside this evening may have been left staring at a seemingly ordinary sky instead of the promised celestial spectacle. The partial solar eclipse reached its maximum across the UK shortly after 7pm, but no one was ever guaranteed a clear view – here’s why. There are a number of reasons why your view of the solar eclipse might have been underwhelming Credit: Getty The path of totality didn’t pass over the UK, meaning the sky may not have got as dark as you might have expected Why couldn’t I see the solar eclipse tonight? Cloud, the Sun’s low position and timing confusion could all have hidden the solar eclipse from view, and Britain was never inside the path of totality. Before the event, the Met Office even warned viewing conditions would vary sharply. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! The weather forecasting service suggested that around 13 areas in the UK might have their view obstructed by cloudy conditions. Central, southern and eastern England and Wales were expected to have the clearest skies, while cloud threatened much of northern England and Scotland. read more on the solar eclipse Northern Ireland was forecast to face the poorest prospects of a clear view, with extensive cloud predicted over much of the nation. The 13 areas that were predicted to have views hindered by cloud cover were: Scotland Northern Ireland Cumbria County Durham North Yorkshire Merseyside Cheshire Derbyshire North Wales Shropshire Staffordshire West Midlands Worcestershire Even where the sky overhead looked blue, the view towards the Sun still might not have been clear. Most read in Tech The Met Office warned that some areas might not have a clear view of the celestial spectacle Royal Observatory Greenwich said the eclipse unfolded as the Sun was setting, meaning viewers needed an unobstructed view towards the western horizon. Trees, buildings, hills, or just a strip of cloud in the distance could have hidden all of the astronomical action. Anyone watching from a narrow street or behind rooftops may simply have had the wrong line of sight. What time was the solar eclipse in the UK? Timing for the partial solar eclipse varied around the UK. First contact came at about 6.08pm in Edinburgh and Glasgow, 6.13pm in Manchester and Liverpool, 6.17pm in London, Bristol and Cardiff, and 6.18pm in Truro. Maximum eclipse followed between approximately 7.05pm and 7.16pm, depending on location. By 7.30pm, the peak was set to have passed everywhere, though the Moon hadn’t fully cleared the Sun in every location and final contact was due by about 8.10pm. Anyone who looked near the beginning may have seen only a small bite taken out of the Sun, while those heading outside after maximum eclipse had already missed the most dramatic moments. Was it a total solar eclipse in the UK? No, which could explain why it felt less spectacular than you might have expected. The UK was outside the narrow path of totality, so the Moon never completely covered the Sun here. Coverage ranged from about 90% to 96%, with the deepest eclipse seen in the South West. So the sky didn’t become fully dark, and instead looked more like a cloudy day, or the kind of light we experience around dusk and dawn. Anyone waiting for midnight-like darkness or the glowing corona shown in total-eclipse photographs was waiting for something Britain was never due to see this time around. So while the solar eclipse did happen over the UK, weather, timing, expectations or a badly placed rooftop may have got in your way. Comment now