Credit: Raph Pour-Hashemi
Wed 12 August 2026 17:18, UK
Brian May may be known as the Queen guitarist, but he’s also a qualified astrophysicist who has recently voyaged to eastern Spain from his home in Surrey to get the perfect viewing angle of the solar eclipse on August 12th.
The solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the earth of the Sun; as such, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth.
Throughout the last few days, the Queen star has shared tips and tricks via his Instagram, also promising to “livestream the total eclipse of the sun.”
He was quick to add a warning for followers in the UK and Europe, sharing, “NEVER look straight at the Sun, and don’t go anywhere near a telescope or binoculars pointed at the Sun.”
After reiterating to those interested in viewing the Sun to “be VERY careful”, he added, “Once you are sure you are safe, enjoy this beautiful spectacle.”
May himself has travelled to Spain in order to get the best view of the eclipse, sharing an image of at the “start of my new adventure,” though he worried that clouds could get in the way of perfect viewing conditions.
For those without solar eclipse glasses, which have been sold out across many areas of the British capital for some time, May has shared DIY alternatives across his page, too.
He followed up his avid social media posting with an interview with BBC Newsnight, in which he shared, “It’s kind of a life-changing experience, to see a total eclipse of the Sun every time.”
May added, “It’s a unique experience because you feel that you know where you are in space. It’s the only time that happens… You’re looking in towards the centre of our solar system, the Sun and you can never do this any other time, you can see the little family of planets around you and see the odd star around you.”
In other May news, he’s also railed against AI in a recent social media post, writing, “We must not allow these hideous Data Centres to be built in the UK. They will destroy our beautiful country, like they are already destroying beautiful America.”
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