It’s been almost a year since a monumental total solar eclipse plunged many parts of North America into complete darkness. We got to witness the phenomenon in the UK too, with a partial solar eclipse visible in much of the north of Britain.
If you missed the occasion, you have another chance to see the astronomical event, as a partial solar eclipse is going to be visible in the UK’s skies. The event is set to take place this coming weekend.
Set your alarms, because this is everything you need to know about the 2025 solar eclipse in the UK.
When is the solar eclipse in 2025?
This partial solar eclipse will take place on Saturday, March 29.
What time is the solar eclipse in the UK?
The moon will begin passing across the sun shortly after 10am GMT and ending at about midday. It will reach its peak at around 11am, when roughly a third of the sun’s light will be blocked by the moon.
How long will it last?
The whole thing should last about two hours.
Is there a map?
Yes. You can follow the path of the solar eclipse on the TimeandDate website here.
What exactly happens during a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks the sun, leading to a period of complete darkness on a narrow stretch of the planet. Observers of a total solar eclipse are plunged into the darkest part of the moon’s shadow (the umbra) whereas partial viewers are covered by partial shade (the penumbra).
What’s the difference between a partial and a total eclipse?
In both kinds of solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. However, it’s the extent to which the moon lines up with the sun that defines whether it’s a partial or solar eclipse.
In a total eclipse, the sun is entirely covered, leaving only a circular outline ring of light; in a partial eclipse, only part of the sun will be blocked out – there won’t be a ring, and the sun won’t be completely covered.
How often do solar eclipses happen?
Total solar eclipses are super rare – they tend to only occur once every 400 years at any given location. Partial solar eclipses are more common, typically occurring at an average of twice per year.
How to view the solar eclipse safely
The first thing to note is to never, ever look directly at the sun. However, if you’re keen to marvel at the spectacle, there are a couple of things you can do. You can buy proper solar eclipse glasses, but they must be ISO-approved – no digging out your old 3D cinema specs.
However, according to Royal Museums Greenwich, the best way to view the eclipse is actually to make a pinhole projector. To do this, you have to make a hole in a piece of card, hold that card up to the sun and hold a piece of paper behind the card, which’ll then show you the shape of the sun projected onto the paper – a mini version of the eclipse.
Where will get the best views of the eclipse?
The whole of the March 29 partial solar eclipse occurs at an altitude over 34 degrees, making the UK a good place to spot it. The best place to see it will be the northwest of Scotland, where 47.8 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon. The southeast of England gets the smallest eclipse, with only 28.1 percent of the sun hidden by the moon.
What’s the visibility due to be like?
It depends where you are, but the weather forecast is ranging from cloudy, to rainy, to sun and cloud. If you’re in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands the chances of seeing it might be quite low, as the forecast is for cloud and light rain from 10am to midday.
Visibility is likely to be better in the southeast, where the forecast is for sun and clouds.
Is there a livestream?
No livestream has been confirmed yet, but we’ll update this page when that changes.
When is the next solar eclipse in the UK?
The last one took place on August 11, 1999, when Devon and Cornwall were in the path of totality. And sadly, we’re gonna have to wait a while. The UK won’t be experiencing a full solar eclipse until 2090, but if you’re around then, mark your calendars for September 23.
When do the clocks go forward and daylight savings start in 2025?
Two UK destinations are the greatest places in the world in 2025, according to TIME Magazine.
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