A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK tomorrow, Saturday 29th March 2025. People will have the chance to see the Moon cover about 30 to 50% of the Sun at its peak.
It will begin at 10:07 in the UK and will end at midday. The best time to see it in the southwest is 10:57am.
Some parts of the UK will see more of the Sun covered than others. This time around, the further north you are, the better.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking some or all the Sun’s light.
There are different types of solar eclipses, depending on how much of the Sun is obscured.
- Partial solar eclipse – The Moon partially covers the Sun, leaving a crescent-shaped section of the Sun visible.
- Annular solar eclipse – The Moon is directly in front of the Sun but appears smaller, leaving a thin, bright ring of sunlight around its edges.
- Total solar eclipse – The Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing a glowing outer atmosphere called the corona.
When and where is the next solar eclipse?
Skywatchers in the UK will be treated to another partial solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, when the Arctic, eastern Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain will experience a rarer total eclipse.
The UK won’t witness another full solar eclipse for another 65 years, until September 23, 2090, according to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
The UK’s last total solar eclipse took place in 1999, with Cornwall being the only location in the country to experience the event in its totality, drawing thousands of people to the region.
How to View the Eclipse
Even during a partial eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye as it can cause eye damage, including blindness.
Solar eclipse glasses are specifically designed to filter out harmful UV rays and reduce the intense brightness of the Sun, making it safe to look directly at the eclipse. Normal sunglasses won’t work because they don’t block enough light to protect your eyes from the Sun’s extreme intensity.
If you don’t have access to eclipse glasses, you can create a simple pinhole camera with just two sheets of cardboard or even use a colander to project the Sun’s image safely onto the ground.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich will be hosting a live stream of the March 2025 solar eclipse, allowing viewers across the UK to experience the event online in real-time.