Partial Solar Eclipse to Darken South West Skies
Rare celestial event offers deepest UK viewing since 1999, with livestream available amidst uncertain Scottish forecasts.
Sarah Connor
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the South West on Wednesday evening.
This celestial event stands as the largest partial solar eclipse in over a quarter-century to be witnessed across the UK.
Regular telescopes are not safe for viewing a solar eclipse; experts warn consumers against using “knock-off” glasses for the event.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory sold approximately 15,000 pairs of eclipse glasses in the last month.
The Royal Observatory will livestream the solar eclipse, offering a secure alternative for those unable to view the event directly or safely.
People in eastern areas of Scotland stand the best chance of seeing Wednesday’s partial solar eclipse.
Viewing events are planned across Scotland, including in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kirkcudbright, Ballindalloch, Elgin, Orkney, and the Isle of Gigha.
Forecasters claim that people in eastern areas of Scotland stand the best chance of seeing Wednesday’s partial solar eclipse.
Despite this, forecasters indicate the rare event is likely to be hidden behind clouds across much of Scotland.
The Met Office claims eastern areas like Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Moray are most likely to have clear skies, with breaks in cloud cover also possible in the central belt and southern Scotland.
North-western areas of the country are likely to remain cloudy throughout the evening, according to the Met Office.
Hours after the eclipse, the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13.