Overview
- The solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday 12 August 2026, with the Moon beginning to cover the Sun in London around 6:17pm, a peak near 7:12pm, and the event ending about 8:06pm.
- Londoners can expect roughly 90% of the Sun to be obscured at maximum while southwestern sites such as Cornwall, Devon, western Pembrokeshire and Plymouth will see the deepest partial coverage of about 94–95%.
- Meteorologists and observatories say weather and a clear western horizon are the decisive risks for viewers, and short‑range forecasts on Sunday point to warm, light‑wind conditions in London but advise checking updates before heading out.
- Officials and science bodies stress continuous use of ISO 12312‑2 certified solar viewers or indirect methods for the entire partial eclipse and warn ordinary sunglasses are unsafe for looking at the Sun.
- The eclipse coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and coordinated research and broadcast plans, including livestreams and high‑altitude observations, which will offer cloud‑insured ways to see the event and study the Sun’s corona.