by With a partial solar eclipse on the cards for parts of the northern hemisphere on Saturday, we take a look at where it will be visible, what is to be expected and how you look at it.
What is a partially solar eclipse?
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon runs between the earth and the sun and the light of the sun is partially blocked. In contrast, the moon completely blocks the light of the sun in a total solar eclipse.
“These darkness, whether they are partially or totally, effectively observes the solar work of the solar system in action,” said the Royal Observatory astronomer Jake Foster.
Where can I see it?
The partial solar eclipse will be visible in several parts of the world, including Western Europe, Greenland, Northwest Africa and northeastern North America.
“It will not be totally anywhere, but there are parts of Canada in which it will be about 90%,” said Foster. “So it will be very impressive there.”
While it is added, the situation in Great Britain is differentiated due to the location, generally between 30% and 40% of the sun is covered. “The best place in Great Britain will be further northwest, parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where it corresponds to about 40-45%,” said Foster.
“The weather forecast actually looks pretty good as far as we can judge it. So we are quite optimistic,” he added.
But those who hope for an eerie darkness could be disappointed. “The matter is with a partial solar eclipse like this [with] About 30-40% of the sun are blocked if they do not look up, they would not really notice the difference, ”said Foster.
“In a partial solar eclipse, it is unlikely that it will become darker or colder as you would do during a total solar eclipse. You really have to watch it to really see the effects.”
The timing of the event also differs from the location, but in London it begins at 10.07 a.m., with the moon reaching the maximum cover of the sun at 11.03 a.m. before it ends at noon.
How can I look at it safely?
“If people want to see it directly to actually look at the sun, they need a few solar fin glasses or a solar operation,” said Foster. “Those use a special filter that blocks 99.9999% of the sunlight, which makes it safe to see it. Similarly, use solar telescopes similar.”
However, there are simple ways to indirectly see the partial solar eclipse. Foster recommends that you either take a colander out of your kitchen or a piece of paper with a small hole and keep it up so that the light of the sun shines through the holes. This projects an image of the solar eclipse onto the ground, the wall or another piece of paper.
“It will look as if the sun has taken out a bite, but it is projected so that it can actually see it safely how it happens,” he said. “Sometimes the sunlight can have the same effect through the gaps between the leaves in the trees.”
When is the next total sunin star expected?
It depends on where you are. The next total sunin star, which is visible from Great Britain, is 2090. However, Foster said that in August 2026, a total suninian would be visible in large parts of Europe, including parts of Spain.
“In fact, it will also be some islands like Ibiza,” he said. Those who cannot get away may still want to treat their colander as spectators in Great Britain with a different partial solar eclipse.
