People across Nottinghamshire will have the chance to witness one of the most significant solar eclipses visible from the UK in decades next week.
A deep partial solar eclipse will take place during the evening of Wednesday 12 August, when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.
The eclipse will begin in Nottingham at approximately 18:14, as the Moon starts to move across the Sun.
The best time to watch will be around 19:10, when the eclipse reaches its maximum and more than 90 per cent of the Sun will be obscured.
The Moon will then gradually move away, with the eclipse expected to finish at around 20:04. The entire event will last approximately one hour and 50 minutes.
Although the eclipse will be total in parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, Nottingham and the rest of the UK will experience a partial eclipse.
It will nevertheless be the greatest coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the solar eclipse of August 1999.
At its maximum, only a thin crescent of the Sun will remain visible. Light levels may fall and temperatures could dip noticeably, although the sky will not become completely dark as it would during a total eclipse.
Where to watch from Nottingham
Because the eclipse is taking place during the evening, the Sun will already be relatively low in the sky.
Anyone hoping to see it should find an open or elevated location with an unobstructed view towards the west or west-northwest.
Buildings, trees and hills could block the view, particularly during the later stages of the eclipse. Viewers may therefore want to check their chosen location at around the same time on the evening before.
Visibility will ultimately depend on the weather, with even relatively thin cloud potentially obscuring the Sun. Forecasts closer to Wednesday will give a clearer indication of Nottingham’s viewing prospects.
How to view the eclipse safely
People must not look directly at the Sun without appropriate eye protection at any stage of the eclipse.
Ordinary sunglasses are not safe, regardless of how dark they are. Eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers should meet the international ISO 12312-2 safety standard and must not be used if scratched, torn or damaged.
Cameras, binoculars and telescopes also require purpose-made solar filters fitted to the front of the equipment. Looking through them while wearing eclipse glasses is not safe because the concentrated sunlight can damage both the glasses and the eyes.
The eclipse can also be observed indirectly using a pinhole projector, or by projecting the Sun’s image through the holes of a colander onto a light-coloured surface.
The UK Health Security Agency has warned that looking at the Sun without proper protection can permanently damage the retina without causing immediate pain.
Cloud cover does not make direct viewing safe.
The key Nottingham timings are:
- Eclipse begins: 18:14
- Maximum eclipse and best viewing time: 19:10
- Eclipse ends: 20:04
Timings are in British Summer Time and may vary slightly across Nottinghamshire.
