Topline
The U.K.‘s biggest solar eclipse until 2090 arrives on Wednesday, Aug. 12, when the moon will cover more than 90% of the sun for millions across Britain. Although the path of totality misses the British Isles, this will be the country’s deepest partial solar eclipse since 2015, with observers in southwest England seeing up to 96% of the sun obscured shortly before sunset. Although there will be no view of the sun’s corona — something reserved only for those in the path of totality in eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain — that won’t be bettered until Sept. 23, 2090, the U.K.’s next total solar eclipse.
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Cornwall And The Isles Of Scilly Get Britain’s Best View
The deepest eclipse in the U.K. will occur across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where up to 96% of the sun will be obscured. Land’s End, the Lizard Peninsula and St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly are among the locations that will see the biggest partial eclipse. However, across Britain, the difference in eclipse depth is relatively small, meaning almost everyone can enjoy an impressive view without traveling.
A Low Evening Eclipse Means Location Matters
Unlike many solar eclipses that occur high in the sky, this event happens during the evening with the sun already descending toward the horizon. Observers should arrive early at a location with an uninterrupted west-northwest view, since buildings, trees and hills could easily block the eclipsed sun. Although daylight will noticeably dim, the landscape will not become completely dark.
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WHERE IS THE PATH OF TOTALITY?
A total solar eclipse will be seen from a 180-mile-wide path of totality across eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, where the moon’s umbral shadow will touch Earth. In those places, day will briefly turn to twilight and, in a clear sky, the sun’s corona will become visible around the moon for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds. A total solar eclipse occurs for somewhere on Earth roughly every 16 months, but at any one place they are very rare, often returning only once every few centuries.
WHERE TO SEE THE ECLIPSE IN THE U.S.
Unlike the April 8, 2024 “Great American Eclipse,” no part of North America will experience totality on Aug. 12, when only the moon’s fuzzy penumbral shadow will strike. In the U.S., the farther northeast you are, the bigger the partial eclipse you’ll see. Maine gets the deepest eclipse in the contiguous U.S., with Presque Isle seeing about 28% of the sun covered at 1:50 p.m. EDT and Bangor seeing about 23% at 1:53 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, Boston will see about 16% at 1:55 p.m. EDT, while New York City will see about 10% at 1:54 p.m. EDT. Alaska gets the biggest partial eclipse in the U.S. view, with Fairbanks seeing about 37% of the sun covered at 8:27 a.m. AKDT.
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Further Reading
ForbesWhy Americans Cannot Ignore August’s Total Solar EclipseBy Jamie CarterForbesYour Ultimate Travel Guide To The 2026 Total Solar EclipseBy Jamie CarterForbesYour Ultimate Guide To Stargazing And Astronomy In 2026By Jamie CarterForbes7 Spectacular Stargazing Events To See This SummerBy Jamie CarterForbesThe Perseid Meteor Shower Begins Today: When To WatchBy Jamie Carter