On Wednesday 12 August 2026, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK. It’s a rare and exciting event that many people will be keen to watch. But looking directly at the Sun without the right protection can cause permanent damage to your eyesight.
Here’s how to enjoy the eclipse safely.
Where can I see the eclipse?
The solar eclipse will be visible across the whole of the UK. People watching in Nottinghamshire can expect the event to start around 6.15pm and end just after8pm, with maximum coverage at around 7.10pm. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, this will be the most coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 solar eclipse – making it a genuinely special occasion.
Why is watching a solar eclipse risky?
During an eclipse, the Sun appears dimmer than usual. This makes it easier to look at directly – and that’s precisely the problem. The reduced brightness can override the body’s natural reflex to look away, allowing intense sunlight to reach and damage the retina. This damage happens without causing any pain, so you may not realise harm is occurring until it’s too late.
Ordinary sunglasses – no matter how dark – do not provide adequate protection for viewing a solar eclipse. They reduce glare, making it feel more comfortable to look at the Sun for longer, while still allowing harmful solar radiation to reach the retina. Never use regular sunglasses to look at the Sun during an eclipse.
How can I watch the eclipse safely?
There are 2 safe approaches: specialist eclipse viewers or indirect viewing methods.
If you want to use eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, make sure they are genuine eclipse glasses with specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E).
Alternatively, you can watch the eclipse indirectly without any specialist equipment at all using:
- a pinhole viewer, which you can easily make at home
- viewing the Sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves
- projecting the Sun’s image onto a sheet of paper using a simple pinhole projector
We hope you enjoy this rare event – please take care of your eyes!
(Source: UKHSA Aug 2026)