Excitement is building across the UK as a partial solar eclipse is set to darken the skies over the country in March. The eagerly anticipated celestial event will see almost half of the Sun obscured for viewers in various regions. With 94% of the Sun disappearing for observers in northern Quebec, Canada, those in the UK can expect to witness between 38% to 47% coverage, depending on their location.
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow that covers only a portion of the Sun’s surface. This creates a stunning crescent shape in the sky and occurs when the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is not perfectly straight. During the upcoming partial eclipse on March 29, 2025, those in the Outer Hebrides will witness around 47% coverage, with Northern Ireland and West Wales seeing 44% and 38% respectively. Londoners, on the other hand, will witness 30% of the Sun being obscured by the Moon.
The timings of the eclipse will vary depending on the viewer’s location within the UK. The eclipse is expected to commence between 10.04am and 10.07am, reach its maximum coverage between 11.02am and 11.05am, and conclude by 12pm. Generally, northern regions of the UK will experience a greater portion of the Sun being obscured compared to southern areas. For example, northwest Scotland is set to witness nearly half of the Sun’s disk covered, while southeast England will see less than a third.
Moreover, following closely on the heels of the solar eclipse is a total lunar eclipse scheduled for March 14, 2025. During this lunar eclipse, the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, giving it a reddish appearance often referred to as a “Blood Moon.” Key phases of the lunar eclipse in the UK, in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), include the Penumbral Eclipse beginning at 03:57 AM, the Partial Eclipse at 05:09 AM, Totality commencing at 06:26 AM, with the Moonset expected between 06:22 AM and 07:20 AM depending on the location.
It is important to note that looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can result in severe eye damage, including permanent blindness. To view the eclipse safely, observers are advised to use eclipse glasses that filter out harmful light or to employ alternative methods such as solar filters for telescopes and binoculars, the pinhole projection method, welding glass with shade number 14 or higher, or watching a live stream from trusted sources like NASA or observatories.
As the anticipation grows for this rare celestial event, individuals across the UK are preparing to witness the spectacle of the partial solar eclipse and the upcoming total lunar eclipse. Whether in the northern regions where the Sun will be more obscured or in the south where a different perspective will be offered, the eclipses are sure to captivate audiences of all ages with their awe-inspiring display of natural phenomena.