Partial solar eclipse - 12 August 6pm ☀️🌕

Rosie_Scope
Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team
edited August 13 in Coffee lounge

This week, we'll be able to see a partial solar eclipse across the country.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun. For a few minutes, the skies will darken slightly and temperatures will drop while the moon makes it's way across the sun.

It'll start just after 6pm and reach its peak at around 7.10pm.

You can see it across the country, but the eclipse will be more complete the further west you are. People on the west coast of the UK and Ireland can expect to see up to a 96% eclipse. Other parts of the country will see at least 89% coverage.

It's very important to wear the right eye protection if you're planning to watch it. Even a small bit of exposure to the direct sunlight can cause permanent eye damage, so please look after yourselves! I've made this post early in case anyone needs to get their eclipse viewing glasses in!

If you can't get glasses in time, the BBC have a guide on how to make a pinhole projector so you can still watch safely:

No eclipse glasses? Pinhole projection a cheap alternative method | BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Does anyone remember the 1999 total eclipse? Will you be watching out for this one?

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,386 Championing

    I remember the Jaffa Cake advert in 1999. Full moon…half moon…total eclipse.

    Don't think I'll be able to see this one due to the position of the sun at 6pm but will keep an eye out.

  • allcry
    allcry Community Member Posts: 8 Contributor

    Thanks Rosie.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team

    Haha yes @OverlyAnxious, me too. I still use that any time I eat anything round 😁 Not sure how much of it I'll see either but I'll have a look anyway!

  • Amberpearl
    Amberpearl Community Member Posts: 4,195 Championing

    I've never seen one yet

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 5,670 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Me either @Amberpearl, will you be watching this time?

  • Holly_Alumni
    Holly_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 6,534 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1143465#Comment_1143465

    Me too! That's a legendary advert! Can't believe it was 1999 though 😮

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,792 Online Community Team

    Today's the day everyone! Have you got your eclipse protector glasses ready? I'm going to give the pinpoint projector a go.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,888 Championing

    I saw Brian May talking about it on Newsnight, he is in Spain to see a 100% eclipse, I think we get 90% here.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,888 Championing
    edited August 12

    I just checked my area, and peak eclipse of 90% will be at 19:04. I would encourage anyone interested to look up where they can best view it.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,792 Online Community Team

    90% seems pretty good to me @ChrisR777! I'll definitely have a look at where's best to see it. Hopefully it's somewhere close.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,888 Championing

    Please everyone, remember not to look directly at our sun! I imagine i won't see anything for the cloud. 🙄

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,888 Championing
    edited August 12

    I thought that would be the case, that is i didn't see anything due to cloud. The footage from Spain looked amazing though!

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team

    That's a shame @ChrisR777! The pictures of the full eclipse were so beautiful.

    Luckily my house faces West, so I got a good view from the front room without having to go anywhere. I made a pinhole projector and it worked really well! Obviously not quite as impressive as a total eclipse but I still got a thrill from it 😄

    Did anyone else manage to watch it?

  • CarNineSix
    CarNineSix Community Member Posts: 52 Contributor

    We managed to watch it using a pin hole box.

    Several others also came over to use it, we were in a local playing field for and unobstructed view.

    Nice to be sat down to watch, but '99 was better.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team

    100% @CarNineSix. I remember the 1999 one getting properly dark and quiet, whereas this one just got sort of dusky. I still found it fascinating to watch, though.

    Not sure if I'll still be around in 2090 to watch the next total eclipse, so I've got to grab my thrills while I still can 😂

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,792 Online Community Team

    We had to do a bit of a walk to see it as it was behind trees and houses. Even though it got dark the sun was still full! It was very strange.

    I remember the 1999 one too. I was in a shopping centre and everyone stopped and looked up through the glass roof.

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,537 Championing

    I loved how the birds tweet as the light comes back; then half an hour later they had to go to bed again 😆

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1144391#Comment_1144391

    Haha definitely! Must be so confusing being an animal during an eclipse!

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