A partial solar eclipse will appear over the UK tomorrow morning, offering a rare astronomical spectacle. According to the Met Office, clear skies are expected over much of the country, allowing many to witness the event.
Eclipse Timing and Visibility
The eclipse will begin at around 10 am on 29 March, with the Moon starting to pass in front of the Sun. The event will last until approximately 12.14 pm. In London, the peak will occur at around 11.03 am.
Those in the north of Scotland and Northern Ireland may face challenges due to cloud cover. The Met Office predicts patchy clouds in the south, but the north-west of Scotland may see rain and overcast conditions.
Figure 2: Eclipse viewing time in the UK
Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesperson, stated, “There’s patchy cloud around on Saturday in the south. The north-west of Scotland, which has the best window for seeing the partial solar eclipse, is unfortunately going to see rain and cloudy skies. However, those further south in England on Saturday should see some break in the cloud.”
Best Viewing Locations
Southern England, particularly the south-east, East Anglia, and the Midlands, will likely have the best conditions. In these areas, up to 30 to 50 per cent of the Sun will be covered.
In contrast, viewers in the Outer Hebrides might see as much as 47 per cent of the Sun obscured. Dover, in south-east England, will see about 28 per cent covered.
The eclipse will be visible across Europe, north-western Africa, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of the northeastern US and eastern Canada. In northeastern Canada, up to 92 per cent of the Sun will be obscured, but snow forecasts could hinder visibility.
Weather Forecast for the Weekend
The weekend weather in the UK will vary significantly between regions. In the north, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland, wind and rain are expected. The south will experience drier conditions with some sunshine.
“There’s a bit of a split for the weekend weather, with more frequent wind and rain in the north of the country, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland. Those further south will generally be drier through the day on Saturday.”
High pressure from the south-west will bring drier weather from Sunday onwards, with temperatures possibly reaching 17°C in the south-east. Northern regions may see highs of around 14°C.
Are you hoping that the weather plays ball with your plans for the weekend? Then you’ll want to check the latest forecast 👇 pic.twitter.com/XxotzCLG9Q
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 28, 2025
Viewing the Eclipse Safely
Safety precautions are crucial when observing a solar eclipse. Experts strongly advise against looking directly at the Sun without proper protection. Special eclipse glasses are essential, as ordinary sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
Figure 3: Use special eclipse glasses for eye protection
Miss Anna Gammon-Ross from Royal Museums Greenwich warned, “If you blocked as much sunlight with your sunglasses as eclipse glasses do, you wouldn’t be able to see where you were going!”
Those without eclipse glasses can use a simple pinhole camera made from two sheets of cardboard. Alternatively, a colander can project the Sun’s image safely onto the ground.
Local astronomical societies may host eclipse-viewing events with telescopes fitted with solar filters. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich will stream the event live, allowing people across the UK to watch safely from home.
Past and Future Eclipses
The UK last experienced a total solar eclipse in 1999, with Cornwall being the only location to witness the event in its totality. The next partial solar eclipse visible in the UK will occur on 12 August 2026. A total solar eclipse will not be seen in the UK until 2090.
Also Read: Blood Moon: The Science Behind the Lunar Phenomenon
The eclipse tomorrow will be the last partial eclipse of 2025 in Europe. The only other partial eclipse this year will take place over New Zealand and Antarctica in September.
Northern Lights Make an Appearance
Earlier this week, the Northern Lights were visible in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Clear skies allowed residents to witness the phenomenon, which has been more frequent recently due to the Sun’s solar maximum phase.
Figure 4: Northern Lights appear in Whitley Bay
People have noticed the Northern Lights more in the last year as the Sun is in its solar maximum phase of an 11-year cycle, meaning higher frequency of solar activity on the Sun.
Connecting with the Cosmos
Astronomers encourage the public to take this opportunity to observe the eclipse safely. Miss Gammon-Ross expressed enthusiasm, saying, “This is an excellent chance to go out, look – safely – and to be able to see the movement of the solar system for yourself. It’s such a wonderful way to just connect to everything happening and see it all in action.”
Skywatchers across the UK are preparing for this celestial event, hoping for clear skies to witness the Moon take a ‘bite’ out of the Sun.
