UK to See Deep Partial Solar Eclipse on Aug 12, 2026

A significant solar eclipse will be visible across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, marking the deepest such event visible from the UK in nearly three decades. While a total eclipse will be seen from a path crossing Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, observers in the UK and Ireland will witness a dramatic partial eclipse, with the Moon obscuring between 89 and 96 percent of the Sun.

The event will occur in the late afternoon and early evening. In London, the eclipse will begin at 6:17 p.m., reach its maximum coverage of approximately 90 percent at 7:12 p.m., and conclude at 8:06 p.m. Timings vary slightly across the country, with the eclipse starting earlier in Scotland and later in southwestern England. The Isles of Scilly are expected to see the greatest coverage in the UK at 96 percent, while mainland Cornwall and southwest England will see up to 95 percent. Large areas of Wales will experience around 93 percent coverage, and Dublin may see up to 94 percent.

Astronomers note that because the Sun will be low in the western sky, a high vantage point with a clear view of the horizon is essential for the best viewing. During the maximum...