People across Ayrshire are being urged to look to the skies this evening as one of the most spectacular solar eclipses visible from Scotland in decades takes place.
The rare celestial event will see more than 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon across Ayrshire, creating a dramatic crescent in the evening sky and noticeably reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the ground.
The partial solar eclipse will begin across our area shortly after 6pm tonight (Wednesday, August 12), before reaching its spectacular maximum at around 7.05pm.
At its peak, only a thin portion of the Sun will remain visible from Ayrshire as the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun.
The eclipse will then gradually come to an end at around 8pm, giving residents almost two hours to experience the remarkable astronomical event.
Across Scotland, the eclipse begins from around 6pm and ends shortly after 8pm, with western parts of the country among those seeing the greatest amount of the Sun obscured. Nearby Glasgow will see around 91% of the Sun covered, with maximum eclipse occurring at approximately 7.06pm.
Tonight’s event forms part of a total solar eclipse which will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. Scotland lies outside the path of totality, meaning Ayrshire will experience a deep partial eclipse rather than the Sun being completely covered.
What time is the eclipse in Ayrshire?
🌒 Eclipse begins: Just after 6pm
🌘 Maximum eclipse: Around 7.05pm
🌒 Eclipse ends: Around 8pm
The exact times and percentage of the Sun covered will vary slightly depending on where you are in Ayrshire.
Weather conditions will ultimately determine just how good the view will be, with cloud forecast to cause problems in some parts of Scotland. However, breaks in the cloud could still provide opportunities to catch a glimpse of the eclipse.
How to watch the eclipse safely
Anyone hoping to watch tonight’s spectacle is being reminded never to look directly at the Sun without appropriate eye protection.
Ordinary sunglasses even very dark ones are not safe for viewing a solar eclipse.
Specialist eclipse glasses which meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard should be used, while indirect methods such as a simple pinhole projector can also allow people to follow the eclipse safely. Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent damage to the eyes.
With the eclipse taking place during the early evening, residents hoping to see it should also try to find somewhere with a clear view towards the western sky.
For those lucky enough to get clear skies, tonight promises to deliver one of the most memorable sights in Ayrshire’s skies for years.