Overview
- The partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK on Wednesday, August 12, with London timings at about 6:17pm BST for first contact, about 7:12pm BST for the maximum and about 8:06pm BST for the end.
- South‑west England and south‑west Wales offer the deepest views in the UK, with Cornwall and Pembrokeshire seeing roughly mid‑90s percent obscuration while most of the country sees about 90–96% coverage.
- Health bodies warn not to look at the Sun without certified ISO 12312‑2 eclipse viewers or indirect projection methods, cautioning against old, scratched or uncertified filters and against buying unverified online products.
- Space agencies and universities are finalising coordinated observation campaigns that include NASA aircraft, ESA involvement, more than 60 high‑altitude balloon launches and multiple observatory livestreams to record the corona and short‑term atmospheric effects.
- High public demand and travel to optimal coastal viewing spots are straining supplies of certified viewers and local services, the Perseid meteor shower peaks the same night, and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists notes about 70 sight‑damage reports after the 1999 eclipse as a reminder of real risk.