A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light either partially or fully when viewed from the UK. People across the West Country will get their best view of a solar eclipse in nearly three decades on 12 August, when up to 95% of the sun disappears behind the moon.
The rare celestial event will be the most dramatic eclipse visible from the UK since 1999, with Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Bristol among the best places in the UK to watch it. People in Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are expected to see around 90% of the Sun obscured, while Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly should get some of the best views anywhere in the UK with 95%.
While the UK will miss out on a total eclipse, astronomers say this will be the most impressive solar eclipse visible from Britain since the much-remembered event of August 1999.
Why is this eclipse a rare chance?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light either partially or fully when viewed from the UK.
The National Space Centre said 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.
They said although the
