For those unable to get outside to experience it themselves, there is another way to watch tonight’s event [National news]
18:00, 12 Aug 2026Updated 19:47, 12 Aug 2026
Solar eclipse: Moment moon covers the sun over Newquay
The live stream has now ended, the video above shows the moment the eclipse happened over the UK
Thousands of people across the South West will have their eyes fixed on the skies tonight for the most dramatic solar eclipse visible from the UK since 1999.
Later this evening, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking much of the solar light and creating a spectacular partial eclipse visible across the UK and beyond.
In the South West, the eclipse is expected to begin at around 6.17pm and continue until approximately 8.07pm. It will reach its peak at around 7.13pm, when around 90% of the Sun is expected to be covered by the Moon.
If you can’t get outside to see it for yourself, you can watch the solar eclipse live here. The free livestream from the Royal Museums Greenwich in London begins at 6.10pm and runs until 8pm.
While people in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, northern Russia and a small area of northern Portugal will experience a total solar eclipse, those in the South West will still enjoy an impressive partial eclipse, with around 90% of the Sun expected to be covered at its peak shortly before sunset.
It will be the deepest eclipse visible from the UK since August 11, 1999, when a total solar eclipse was seen from parts of Cornwall and Devon.
People in Clifton, Bristol, celebrate the last eclipse wit Champagne in 1999(Image: B Evripidou)
What time is the eclipse in the South West?
Across the region, the eclipse is expected to begin between at around 6.17pm.
The Moon will cover around 90% of the Sun at its maximum around 7.13pm, when the Sun will be sitting low in the western sky. The eclipse will then come to an end at around 8.07pm, close to sunset.
The further south-west you travel in the UK, the greater the eclipse coverage becomes. According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Cornwall is expected to see around 95% of the Sun covered, while Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales will experience about 94%.
Those travelling to the south-west tip of Ireland would see some of the best views anywhere in the British Isles, with almost 97.5% of the Sun hidden by the Moon.
A child looks at the sun through eclipse glasses(Image: ANP/Shutterstock)
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow across part of the planet.
Because the Moon’s shadow only covers a relatively small area of the Earth’s surface, a total solar eclipse can only be seen from a narrow path. Everywhere else within a much larger area experiences a partial eclipse, where only part of the Sun is covered.
There are between two and five solar eclipses every year, although total eclipses occur somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months.
How to watch safely
Anyone planning to watch the eclipse should never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe. Instead, use certified eclipse glasses or indirect viewing methods such as a pinhole projector to enjoy the event safely.