Londoners are set to witness the deepest partial solar eclipse the capital has seen in over 25 years on Wednesday evening. The Moon will cover roughly 91% of the Sun at its peak, creating a dramatic crescent shape low in the western sky.
The eclipse begins at approximately 6:17pm BST and reaches its maximum around 7:13pm, before ending shortly after 8pm.
This marks the most significant solar eclipse visible from London since the total eclipse of 1999. Unlike a total eclipse, the sky will not go completely dark during Wednesday’s event.
Instead, viewers can expect a noticeable dip in light and temperature, similar to an overcast afternoon or the fading light of dusk.
The Sun and Moon will hang low on the western horizon throughout the display, roughly 10 degrees above the skyline. That positioning means Londoners will need a clear, unobstructed view to the west to catch the full show.
Primrose Hill has emerged as one of the most popular free viewing spots in the city, offering an open outlook across the skyline. Greenwich Park’s high ground also gives an unobstructed north-westerly view as the eclipse unfolds.
Weather remains the biggest wildcard, with forecasters putting the odds of clear skies at around 45%.
Experts are urging anyone hoping to watch to invest in certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses well ahead of time.
Standard sunglasses offer nowhere near enough protection, and looking directly at the Sun without proper eyewear can cause permanent eye damage.
Because London falls outside the path of totality, there is no point during the eclipse when it is safe to remove protective glasses.
The path of totality instead sweeps across eastern Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, missing the UK by a few hundred miles.
Skywatchers who stay up late will get a bonus reward, as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak in moonless skies just hours after the eclipse ends.
Astronomers are calling the combination one of the most rewarding observing windows of the decade, weather permitting.