Scotland will see its most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999 this Wednesday, with up to 95% of the Sun obscured by the Moon.
Key facts
- •The eclipse will last about two hours, with the peak occurring approximately one hour after the event begins.
- •The next total solar eclipse is not expected to occur until September 23, 2090.
- •Following the 1999 eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported 70 cases of vision problems, with 40% of those individuals having viewed the event for less than a minute.
- •Standard sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for viewing the Sun during an eclipse.
- •The event will conclude before 20:00, well before the Sun sets at approximately 21:00.
People across Scotland are set to witness a significant partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, the most dramatic such event visible from the UK since August 1999. The phenomenon will last approximately two hours, with the Moon beginning to move in front of the Sun between 18:01 and 18:10 BST. While parts of Spain and Portugal will experience a total eclipse, Scotland will see up to 95% of the Sun obscured.
By the numbers
Viewing and Safety Guidance
Astronomer Royal for Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans advises that the best viewing locations are elevated areas with unobstructed views to the west. Because the Sun sets later in Scotland, it will remain higher in the sky during the event compared to other regions. Experts emphasize that viewers must never look directly at the Sun, as it can cause permanent retinal damage even through cloud cover. Recommended safety methods include using certified eclipse glasses with ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015 certification, solar telescopes, or indirect methods like pinhole projectors or kitchen colanders.
Organized Events and Weather
Numerous locations across Scotland are hosting public viewing events, including the Edinburgh Playfair Observatory, Beirhope Farm, and the Dark Space Planetarium in Kirkcudbright. Many of these sites will provide solar telescopes or certified eclipse glasses. The Met Office notes that while the south and east of Scotland may see less of the Sun covered, they could experience better visibility due to clearer skies, whereas weather fronts in the west may impact views.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Science & Environment.
