A partial solar eclipse will cast its shadow across Britain on Wednesday, reaching its fullest point in the south-west of England and Wales.
More than 90 per cent of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12, the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
Devon, Cornwall and the westernmost parts of Pembrokeshire in Wales are set to see the eclipse at its fullest, with a range of 94 to 96 per cent of the sun obscured by the moon.
Coverage of the sun is expected to reach 91 per cent in London, with thousands set to head to the capital’s viewing spots to be part of a rare natural phenomena.
The next time the moon blocks the sun to this extent will be in 2081 and the next total solar eclipse in the UK will be in 2090.
Experts have warned that those wanting to experience the moon shadow to ensure they have protective eye wear in the form of either specially designed eclipse glasses or other home made concoctions, including deploying a kitchen colander. Viewers should never directly look at the sun, even during an episodic eclipse.
Want to know when you can expect to see the partial eclipse for yourself in the UK? Below is a list of times the Met Office has calculated that the partial eclipse will become visible across the country.
UK eclipse times
Inverness - 7.03pm, 90.74 per cent solar coverage
Edinburgh - 7.06pm, 90.71 per cent
Newcastle - 7.07pm, 90.22 per cent
Belfast - 7.08pm, 93.09 per cent
Norwich, 7.10pm, 90 per cent
Birmingham - 7.12pm, 91.79 per cent
Bristol - 7.13pm, 93 per cent
Cardiff - 7.13pm, 93.24 per cent
London - 7.13pm, 91.41 per cent
Plymouth - 7.16pm, 94.66 per cent
Truro - 7.16pm, 95 per cent
The path of totality
The UK will miss out on a total eclipse this time, but other parts of western Europe will briefly be plunged into darkness on Wednesday, including Iceland and Spain, as they fall under what is known as the “path of totality”.
Here is when the moon will fully obscure the sun in those countries:
Russia, Mys Nord - 02:00 (GMT+9)
Greenland, Scoresby Sund - 16.35 (GMT -1)
Iceland, Reykjavík - 17:48 (GMT)
Spain, Bilbao - 18.28 (GMT+2)
Portugal, Bragança - 19.30 (GMT+1)
