UK Sees Rare Partial Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteor Shower

The United Kingdom experienced a rare celestial double feature on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as a deep partial solar eclipse crossed the evening skies, followed hours later by the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. The combination of events created a memorable night for skywatchers across the country, marking the most significant solar eclipse visible from the UK in nearly three decades.

The partial solar eclipse began in the early evening, with the Moon passing in front of the Sun and obscuring a large portion of its disc. Timings varied slightly by location, but the event generally started around 6:17 p.m. BST in London and concluded at approximately 8:07 p.m. BST. The maximum eclipse, when the greatest coverage occurred, was observed between those times, with the peak in London at about 7:12 p.m. BST. The eclipse was not total, but the extent of coverage was substantial, reaching over 90 percent in many areas. According to the Met Office, Plymouth saw the fullest eclipse, with the Moon covering 94.66 percent of the Sun at 7:16 p.m. BST. Other major cities like Birmingham, London, and Edinburgh experienced coverage between 90 and 92 percent.