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UK Readies for Deep Partial Solar Eclipse on August 12

Organisers have finalised public events, livestreams, scientific campaigns

Overview

  • The eclipse will occur on Wednesday, August 12 and the UK will see a very deep partial eclipse with roughly 90–96% of the Sun obscured depending on location.
  • Peak times vary by place with first contact from just after 6pm, maxima around 7:05–7:16pm and the event ending between about 8:00pm and 8:10pm, so viewers should check local timings.
  • Authorities and health bodies stress that looking at the Sun during the partial phases can cause instant, permanent retinal damage and advise ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, proper solar filters for optics, or indirect projection methods such as pinhole viewers or a colander.
  • Scientific teams and broadcasters have finalised coordinated campaigns including NASA and ESA livestreams, research aircraft chasing extended totality, and high-altitude balloon and ground observatory measurements of the corona and atmosphere.
  • Organisers warn that local weather, a low western horizon at sunset, and last-minute supply or crowding pressures are the main risks to in-person viewing and recommend choosing elevated, open sites or watching official livestreams as a weather‑insured alternative.