Solar eclipses have gotta be among the most wondrous of nature’s spectacles. They happen when the moon totally (or in our case this time, partially) blocks out the light of the sun, causing a moment of darkness (or darker skies) right in the middle of the day.
A solar eclipse in April will see parts of Mexico, the US and Canada fall into the ‘path of totality’, meaning the moon will perfectly align with the sun and millions will be plunged into minutes of darkness – lots of places across the US have even issued safety warnings. The UK will see a partial eclipse, meaning the sun won’t be completely blocked out.
Total solar eclipses are rare events, and each place on Earth can only expect to see one once every 400 years. With the total eclipse in the US now only two weeks away, here is everything you need to know about catching a glimpse of the partial eclipse from the UK.
When is the solar eclipse in 2024?
This particular solar eclipse will take place on Monday April 8, 2024.
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).
For the 2024 total solar eclipse, the path of totality is from a patch in the Pacific Ocean just off the west coast of Mexico all the way to Newfoundland in Canada, and it’ll travel through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before entering Canada in Southern Ontario.
What time is the solar eclipse in the UK?
The beginning of the partial eclipse is at 7.52pm in Scotland, 7.54pm in Northern Ireland and England and 7.55pm in Wales.
How long will it last?
The eclipse will end at different times across the UK, only lasting til 8.04pm in Wales, 8.06pm in England, 8.21pm in Northern Ireland, but until 8.51pm in Scotland.
Is there a map?
Yes! NASA has created an interactive map so you can see how and when the eclipse will journey from Mexico, all the way across the States to Canada. You can take a look at it here.
How often do solar eclipses happen?
Total solar eclipses are super rare – they only occur once every 400 years at any given location.
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.
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.
Plus: here’s how to see the northern lights tonight in the UK.
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