The Great British Partial Solar Eclipse 2026
- 24th Jul 2026
- Author: Emma Mosley
We are very excited here at the National Space Centre for the Great British Partial Solar Eclipse on 12 August! Whilst we just miss out on a total solar eclipse experience, it will still be an incredible sight to see.
Book the date in your diaries and let’s find out what’s happening.
What's happening?
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun but the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly lined up. The Moon will block out part of the Sun when viewed from the UK.
The main event of this year’s total solar eclipse (when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun) will be visible in a giant arc moving across from Northern Russia to Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Northern Portugal. This arc of totality, (the path the eclipse shadow takes), misses us here in the UK. We will still get to see over 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon!
The closer you are to the arc of totality, the more of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. As this arc will pass us off the coast of Ireland, the west coast of Ireland will see up to 97% of the Sun covered. Here in Leicester, as we are further away, we will see up to 91% of the Sun covered. If you are even further away to the east like in Copenhagen, Denmark, it will be around 84%!
Find out more about the different types of solar eclipse here.
How to see it
You have a few options if you wish to see the eclipse:
- There are events happening across the UK where you can go and observe the partial eclipse. Here at the National Space Centre, we are hosting our own special Space Lates – Partial Solar Eclipse. Join us as we watch the partial solar eclipse (weather permitting) with Leicester Astronomical Society and spend an evening with us full of activities, a planetarium show and time to explore our galleries.
- You could view the eclipse during a live broadcast by ESA, hosted by the UK's very own Dame Dr Maggie Alderin here.
- You could go abroad on holiday to one of the locations where there is totality.
- Or you could simply watch it in your back garden or your local park!
Remember to never look at the Sun directly as this may damage your eyesight. Check out our blog on 5 Ways to View a Solar Eclipse Safely! Who knew that was what colanders were for?!
Timeline of the Great British Partial Eclipse
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![A telescope is used to project the Partial Solar eclipse in 2025 from NSC car park.]()
National Space Centre Starts at 18:15
To view the partial eclipse here in the UK, all you need to do is look to the west at 18:09 as the Sun is starting to set. Depending on where in the UK you're observing from, this will differ by a few minutes - for example from Leicester the event will begin 18:15.
When picking your viewing spot, make sure your view is as clear as possible from tall buildings and trees.
You will see the Sun start whole with the Moon slowly moving across, nibbling the edge of the Sun beginning from its southeastern limb.
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![A telescope is used to project a Partial solar eclipse in 2025 from the NSC Car Park.]()
National Space Centre Maximum at 19:11
In Leicester, the maximum point of the eclipse will be reached at around 19:11 where the Moon will be covering 91% of the Sun. If you are further north like the tip of Scotland, maximum will be at 18:56. If you are further south like Cornwall, then maximum will be 19:16. The difference in time is due to the eclipse progressing across the globe.
The light may start to dim, as if the Sun is already setting on the horizon. Now the Moon has had more than just a nibble, it will have taken a big bite leaving just a thin crescent of the Sun left!
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![Partial Solar Eclipse 2025 taken through an eclipse viewer.]()
National Space Centre Ends at 20:05
Now the Moon will start moving away from the Sun, slowly unveiling it again with the eclipse ending at 20:10 in the UK. Again, the local time of the end of the eclipse will differ by a few minutes - from Leicester the spectacle will be over by 20:05.
Keep a keen eye out as you may also be able to spot a planet! Venus will be to the left of the Sun - become more prominent as the sky begins to darken.
As the evening goes on, it may become difficult to see the Sun and the end of the eclipse as it starts to set and sits just a few degrees above the horizon.
When is the next one?
Last year’s amazing partial eclipse in Leicester only covered the Sun by 33%. This year’s is a spectacular 91%, but what about in the future?
Here in Leicester, the next time we will see the Sun covered even more than this one will be on 23 September 2090!
This will be a special event in the UK as viewers will be able to witness a total solar eclipse happening across the south coast from Cornwall to Hastings! This will follow a similar path as the total eclipse seen in 1999. Leicester will see 98% of the Sun covered.
So when will there be a total solar eclipse in Leicester? The last total solar eclipse seen in Leicester was 3 May 1715 but the next one will not be in our lifetime. It will be on 14 June 2151.
So we'll have to enjoy as many partial eclipses as we can. Keep an eye out for the next partial solar eclipses which can be viewed from Leicester. Here are the dates for the next ten years:
- 2 August 2027
- 26 January 2028
- 1 June 2030
- 21 August 2036
- 16 January 2037
The partial solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 is one not to be missed so enjoy and don't forget to observe safely!
Image Credits:
Banner - Solar eclipse 8th April 2024, Quebec City - Public domain
Image 1 - Infographic showing the path of the total solar eclipse - ESA
Image 2 - 2025 Partial solar eclipse with National Space Centre - National Space Centre
Image 3a - View of 2025 partial eclipse through telescope - National Space Centre
Image 3b - View of 2025 partial eclipse through telescope - National Space Centre
Image 3c - View of 2025 partial eclipse through eclipse viewer - National Space Centre
Image 4 - Infographic showing the dates of the next partial solar eclipses in the next ten years from the UK - National Space Centre
