Where in the West Country to see the biggest solar eclipse since 1999
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- A partial solar eclipse on 12 August will obscure up to 95% of the sun over the West Country — the most dramatic visible from the UK since the August 1999 event.
- Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will see the deepest coverage at 95%, while Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will see around 90%.
- The eclipse timing runs from 18:17 BST (start) to 20:06 BST (end), with maximum coverage at 19:12 BST, all during evening hours requiring a clear western horizon.
- The Bristol Astronomical Society, partnering with We The Curious and Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge, is hosting a free viewing at The Downs Sea Walls Viewpoint, Clifton from 17:00, with ISO-certified eclipse glasses distributed to the public.
- The Bath Astronomers have distributed more than 7,000 free pairs of eclipse glasses to young people in the area along with guidance for teachers and parents.
- The arc of totality for this year's total eclipse passes over Northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Northern Portugal, missing the UK entirely.
- The next full solar eclipse in the UK isn't expected until 23 September 2090 — 66 years away — according to Royal Museums Greenwich.
Why it matters: With the next UK total eclipse 66 years away, this 90-95% partial event is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for West Country residents, and local astronomy societies are mobilizing to make it accessible with free ISO-certified glasses, dedicated solar telescopes, and organized viewing events across the region.
