On the 12th of August 2026, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun in one of the most spectacular astronomical events of our lifetime. This is a truly once-in-a-generation event for the UK, and it won't happen again with this magnitude from our shores until 2090. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of it.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun's light from reaching us. When the Moon completely covers the Sun, it is called a total solar eclipse. When only part of the Sun is covered, as will be the case across the UK on the 12th of August, it is called a partial solar eclipse.
On the 12th of August 2026, the UK will experience a deep partial solar eclipse, which means that a very large proportion of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. Depending on where you are in the UK, up to around 95% of the Sun will disappear from view. This is an exceptionally deep partial eclipse and the sky will noticeably darken, temperatures will drop, and the quality of light will take on an eerie, otherworldly quality that is quite unlike anything else in nature.
The Path of Totality
While the UK will experience a spectacular deep partial eclipse, the path of totality where the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon and day briefly turns to night passes elsewhere. You can see the full path of totality in the videos below.
Video Credit: NASA/Ernie Wright
How Much of the Sun Will Disappear?
Please see the attached Met Office image that shows how much of the Sun will disappear and at what time at different locations across the UK:
📍 Plymouth — around 95% at 19:16 BST
📍 Cardiff — around 93% at 19:13 BST
📍 Belfast — around 93% at 19:08 BST
📍 Birmingham — around 92% at 19:12 BST
📍 London — around 91% at 19:13 BST
📍 Newcastle — around 90% at 19:07 BST
📍 Edinburgh — around 91% at 19:06 BST
📍 Inverness — around 91% at 19:03 BST
(Image credit: Met Office)
When is the Eclipse? Timings for the UK
🌒 First contact: 18:13 BST
🌑 Greatest eclipse: 19:10 BST
🌘 Last contact: 20:03 BST
These timings are given for central UK — depending on your location timings will differ slightly, but are otherwise a good general guide. The Met Office image above shows the time of greatest eclipse for specific locations.
Note that the eclipse takes place in the early evening, with the Sun low in the western sky. This means you will need a clear, unobstructed view of the western horizon to see the eclipse from start to finish.
🔭 Viewing Tips
- Find a spot with a clear western horizon — the Sun will be low in the sky during the eclipse, so trees, buildings or hills to the west could obstruct your view. Scout your location in advance if possible
- Look for a local viewing event — solar eclipse viewing events will be taking place across the UK, with astronomy clubs, observatories, and community groups all getting involved. Look for an event in your local area — it's a wonderful way to share the experience and you may get the chance to view through a properly filtered telescope
- Watch the NASA live stream — NASA will be live streaming the event online for those who want to follow along or who are clouded out
🛡️ Viewing Safely
Safety is absolutely paramount when viewing a solar eclipse. The Sun is intensely bright and looking at it directly, even during a partial eclipse, can cause immediate and permanent eye damage.
- Certified eclipse glasses are essential for direct viewing — never look at the Sun without them. Make sure your glasses are certified to the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe, no matter how dark they are
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No glasses? You can still enjoy the eclipse safely with these easy alternatives:
- Pinhole projector — make a small hole in a piece of card, hold it up to the Sun, and it will project an image of the crescent Sun onto another piece of card, a wall, or the ground behind you. Simple, free, and it works brilliantly!
- Colander — hold one up to the sunlight and it will cast dozens of beautiful little crescent shadows, a surprisingly magical effect that children especially love!
- Binocular or telescope projection — you can project the Sun's image through binoculars or a refractor telescope onto a piece of card or a wall, creating a large, detailed image of the eclipse. Look up how to do this safely before the day
⚠️ NEVER look directly at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without the correct solar safety filters. The concentrated light can cause immediate and permanent eye damage. Only use binoculars or a telescope for direct viewing if you have the correct solar filters fitted — standard eclipse glasses are not sufficient for use with optical instruments.
📸 Photographing the Eclipse
The 2026 solar eclipse is a once-in-a-generation photographic opportunity. Here is how to make the most of it:
- Use a solar filter on your camera lens — just like your eyes, your camera sensor can be damaged by pointing it directly at the Sun without protection. Dedicated solar filters or solar film are available for camera lenses and telescope eyepieces. Remove the filter only if you are lucky enough to be shooting totality along the path of totality which unfortunately isn't in the UK, so keep your filter on throughout.
- Use a tripod — stability is essential, especially as the light levels drop and longer exposures may be needed.
- Use a remote shutter release or intervalometer — pressing the shutter button directly can introduce camera shake, even on a sturdy tripod. Use a remote shutter release, an intervalometer, or your camera's built-in shutter timer to trigger the shot without touching the camera. An intervalometer is particularly useful if you're shooting a composite sequence, as it can automatically capture shots at set intervals throughout the eclipse without you needing to touch the camera at all.
- Focusing accurately — getting sharp focus on the Sun can be trickier than it looks. Use your camera's live view feature and digitally zoom in to the edge of the Sun on your screen, then carefully adjust your focus until the edge of the Sun is as sharp as possible. Don't rely on autofocus or the infinity mark on your lens, take the time to nail it manually before the eclipse begins, and check it periodically throughout. Once you're happy with your focus, tape your focus ring in place, and on zoom lenses, tape the zoom ring too to prevent any accidental slipping during the shoot.
- Shoot in manual mode — auto exposure will struggle with the brightness of the Sun. Take full control of your settings so you can adjust as the eclipse progresses.
- Experiment with exposure — the crescent Sun is bright, so start with something like ISO 100, f/8, and 1/1000s as a starting point, but you will need to experiment to find what works best with your particular setup. As more of the Sun is covered, you may need to increase your exposure slightly. It's also a good idea to bracket your shots, take a series of images at different exposure lengths around your chosen setting so you have a range to choose from and can pick the best exposure later.
- Focal length matters — the Sun is smaller in the frame than you might expect. Focal lengths of around 600mm or higher will give you good detail of the crescent Sun itself, but wider focal lengths of around 24-50mm allow you to capture the eclipse alongside some foreground, adding context and a sense of place to your image. Both approaches are valid — it just depends on the shot you're going for!
- Don't forget the atmosphere — as well as the eclipse itself, the unusual quality of light during a deep partial eclipse makes for stunning landscape and portrait shots. Look around you as well as up!
- Test your setup beforehand — don't wait until the 12th to try out your camera with a solar filter. Test it on the Sun in the days before so you're confident with your settings on the day.
- For the more accomplished photographer — why not try creating a composite image of the entire eclipse sequence? By capturing photographs at set intervals of around 5 minutes throughout the event and blending them together in post-processing, you can create a stunning single image that reveals the full path of the crescent Sun across the sky and the complete sequence of the eclipse from start to finish. A focal length of around 50mm with a fixed composition should be able to fit the whole sequence in frame, though a wider angle lens may help if you also want to include some foreground in the shot. A truly rewarding project and a unique record of this once-in-a-generation event!
- Want to go deeper? For a wealth of detailed advice on photographing solar eclipses, we highly recommend visiting mreclipse.com an excellent resource packed with guides, tips and techniques for all levels of photographer
🌌 What Else is Happening in August 2026?
The solar eclipse isn't the only highlight this August! The night sky is packed with incredible events throughout the month, including the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on the 13th of August and a dramatic partial lunar eclipse on the 28th. For the full rundown of everything happening in the August night sky, head to our August Night Sky Guide.
For more information including video guides, head to our YouTube channel @AstroDogUK.
🌞 Wishing You All Clear Skies
The 2026 solar eclipse is going to be a spectacular occasion no matter where you are in the UK. We hope you have an amazing time and we wish you all the very best of luck and clear skies!
🌍 Where are you planning to watch the eclipse from? Let us know in the comments below!
