--- title: How to Best Watch the Rare Solar Eclipse From the U.K. and Ireland description: It will be the best solar eclipse visible from the U.K. and Ireland so far this century, experts say. Here's how to best view it on August 12. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/08/07/solar-eclipse-august-uk-ireland-europe-how-when-to-watch/ author: Callum Sutherland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-08-07T19:54:00.990Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-07T19:54:01.230Z article:section: Science og:title: How and When You Can Watch August's Stunning Partial Solar Eclipse From the U.K. and Ireland og:description: It will be the best solar eclipse visible from the U.K. and Ireland so far this century, experts say. Here's how to best view it on August 12. og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/08/07/solar-eclipse-august-uk-ireland-europe-how-when-to-watch/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt92d9511a547bbc9d/6a7630b1017cc16d8fb2e530/GettyImages-467013416.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: GettyImages-467013416.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How and When You Can Watch August's Stunning Partial Solar Eclipse From the U.K. and Ireland twitter:description: It will be the best solar eclipse visible from the U.K. and Ireland so far this century, experts say. Here's how to best view it on August 12. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt92d9511a547bbc9d/6a7630b1017cc16d8fb2e530/GettyImages-467013416.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How and When You Can Watch August's Stunning Partial Solar Eclipse From the U.K. and Ireland by [Callum Sutherland](https://time.com/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Reporter Aug 7, 2026 7:54 PM UTC  A partial solar eclipse is seen over the Miner's Family Statue in Tonypandy, Wales, on March 20, 2015. A partial solar eclipse is seen over the Miner's Family Statue in Tonypandy, Wales, on March 20, 2015.Nathan Stirk - Getty ImagesChristopher Furlong—Getty Images by [Callum Sutherland](https://time.com/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Reporter Aug 7, 2026 7:54 PM UTC Europe is getting its first total [solar eclipse](https://time.com/6963403/solar-eclipse-2024-surprising-facts/) in 27 years, with some territories set to witness a full obscuration of the sun on Aug. 12. While residents in parts of Greenland, Spain, northern Russia, Iceland, and a small corner of Portugal will benefit from being in the path of totality, people in the U.K. and Ireland will experience a slightly more diluted version of the rare celestial event. The moon is set to cover around 90-96% of the sun in the U.K. and Ireland—the most coverage visible in the region since the total eclipse of 1999, the [Royal Museums Greenwich](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse) tells TIME. As the U.K. and Ireland will have to wait until [September 2090](https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/how-see-best-solar-eclipse-visible-uk-1999) to experience a total solar eclipse, it’s more than worth embracing the partial solar eclipse this month. Here’s everything to know about the rare spectacle, and how you can safely view it: ### What is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is when the moon, from the perspective of Earth, passes in front of the face of the sun, blocking out some—or all—of its light. During the moon’s orbit of Earth, it goes through a [29.5-day cycle](https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/), during which a “new moon” appears. At this stage, there is an opportunity for a solar eclipse to occur if the path of the new moon crosses in front of the sun’s path, Catherine Muller, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, tells TIME. While a solar eclipse only occurs during a new moon phase, it is not guaranteed. Given the tilt of the moon’s orbit, and the constant movement of Earth, eclipses are therefore a rare and relatively short occasion. “The moon is always moving, the Earth is always moving, so there's never a long period of time where the two are able to cross paths exactly, but periodically it does happen, and that's why you end up with this eclipse,” says Muller. Earth is ideally placed in relation to the moon and the sun in order for the two to completely [overlap](https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/geometry/) during a total eclipse. “It just so happens that our moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, and also 400 times closer to us than the sun,” says Muller. ### Will the solar eclipse be visible from the U.K. and Ireland? Yes, not in totality, but people will be treated to a spectacular partial eclipse. In fact, this is set to be the best solar eclipse visible from the U.K. and Ireland so far this century, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. It will “almost look like there's a crescent of the sun left behind, the rest will be blocked by the moon,” says Muller. After the eclipse, there is also an opportunity to observe the Perseid meteor shower on the same night. As the peak of the meteor shower occurs during a new moon, conditions are ideal for seeing the peak, notes Royal Museums Greenwich. Muller suggests the best time to watch the celestial event is after midnight, but advises heading to an area with low light pollution. “The best way to observe it is to lie on the ground or get in a comfy chair and fill your view with as much of the sky as possible,” she says.  ### What time is it happening and where are the best places to view the partial eclipse? For both the U.K. and Ireland, the further south-west you go, the more coverage you will see. “The best way to guarantee that you'll be able to see it, no matter where you are in the U.K. or Ireland, is to make sure you're somewhere with a clear western horizon,” advises Muller. Due to the eclipse taking place close to sunset, it is also important to avoid obstructions such as trees, hills, or buildings, as the sun will be lower on the horizon. Anyone able to visit the south-western tip of Ireland stands a chance of seeing almost [97.5%](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse#eclipsetimings) coverage, meaning people in the counties of Cork and Kerry may strike lucky. In the U.K., coverage will be best in Cornwall, in the southwest of England, with around 95% obscuration expected. Neighbouring Devon should also encounter a high percentage of coverage, while people in Pembrokeshire, Wales, are set to see up to 94% of the sun eclipsed. [Timings](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse#eclipsetimings) for when the partial eclipse will start, reach its peak, and end, all vary slightly, depending on location. As a general guide, the “first contact” between the moon and sun will begin at around 6:12 p.m., local time, in Galway and Dublin in Ireland. The maximum eclipse will occur at 7:10 p.m., with it coming to a complete end at 8:05 p.m. In Truro, Cornwall, the timings for each of these three events are 6:18 p.m., 7:16 p.m., and 8:10 p.m. Viewers in [London](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/how-see-12-august-2026-partial-solar-eclipse#:~:text=At%206.17pm%20from%20London,at%207.12pm%20from%20London.) will get slightly less coverage, but they should still be able to enjoy a substantial 90% partial eclipse. Timings here are similar: A start time of 6:17 p.m., the peak to follow at 7:12 p.m. and the conclusion coming in at 8:06 p.m.  Three friends visit Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall, to view the solar eclipse on Aug. 11, 1999. Toby Melville—Getty Images ### How can you watch the eclipse safely? Experts [strongly recommend](https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/how-see-best-solar-eclipse-visible-uk-1999) wearing the appropriate eye protection when observing the eclipse, in an effort to avoid any damage to your vision. Muller recommends purchasing eclipse glasses, or if you already have a pair, ensuring they are not damaged and ready for use. According to [NASA](https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety#expire), if your glasses are less than 10 years old, aren’t punctured or loose from the frame, and have been tested to the international standard of ISO 12312-2, they are safe for use. “Don't look at the sun with \[regular\] sunglasses on, with two pairs of sunglasses on, or 3D glasses on,” Muller warns, advising against short-cuts. “Even limited exposure to direct sunlight can damage your eyes.” The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has [offered](https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/07/23/how-to-watch-the-solar-eclipse-safely-this-summer/) similar guidance, referencing the cautionary tale of people who were ill-equipped when viewing the Aug. 11, 1999 eclipse. Citing a [repor](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11339579/)t from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the government said that at least 70 people reported visual loss in the days after the eclipse due to having looked directly up at the sun without appropriate protection. The visual loss was temporary, with none of those affected reporting any issues beyond six months after the eclipse. “The reduced brightness can override the body's natural reflex to look away, allowing intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina,” according to the UKHSA. Holding up a colander and looking at its shadow is an alternative way to view the phenomenon, the UKHSA [suggests](https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/07/23/how-to-watch-the-solar-eclipse-safely-this-summer/), but people must still avoid any direct eye contact with the sun. “If you hold a colander up in the direction of the sun, the light from the sun will travel through the holes in it and project little prints of the sun on the floor,” says Muller. “As the eclipse happens, you'll end up seeing lots of little crescents as the moon passes in front of it instead.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/07/solar-eclipse-august-uk-ireland-europe-how-when-to-watch/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/07/solar-eclipse-august-uk-ireland-europe-how-when-to-watch/"},"headline":"How and When You Can Watch August's Stunning Partial Solar Eclipse From the U.K. and Ireland","datePublished":"2026-08-07T19:54:00.990Z","dateModified":"2026-08-07T19:54:01.230Z","description":"It will be the best solar eclipse visible from the U.K. and Ireland so far this century, experts say. 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