BRITONS are gearing up for a celestial show which will see the UK experience its most dramatic solar eclipse in nearly 30 years.
On Wednesday, August 12, , plunging the UK into early-evening twilight.
On a global scale, solar eclipses are not as rare as many people think Credit: Alamy
August 12’s total eclipse will appear only partial in the UK, but skywatchers across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will still get a front-row seat Credit: Getty
While the path of totality sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, skywatchers across will enjoy a front-row seat to .
As excitement builds, when was the last time this happened – and how long do we have to wait until we can witness something similar again?
How rare are solar eclipses?
On a global scale, solar eclipses are not as rare as many people think.
Between two and five solar eclipses occur somewhere on every year.
But because the Moon’s narrow shadow covers only a tiny portion of the planet’s surface during any single event, seeing one from your own doorstep is a rare occurrence.
The last of any kind anywhere on Earth was an annular “ring of fire” eclipse on February 17, 2026.
That event was visible across Antarctica and remote parts of the southern oceans.
An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun while at its farthest point from our planet, appearing slightly smaller than the Sun and creating a glowing “ring of fire” of sunlight around its outer edge.
When was the last partial solar eclipse?
The last partial-only solar eclipse took place on September 21, 2025.
During that event, the Moon cast a partial shadow over parts of New Zealand, Antarctica, and the South Pacific Ocean.
During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon appears to take a ‘bite’ out of the solar disc Credit: AFP
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth do not form a perfectly straight line.
Instead of blocking the Sun completely, the Moon appears to take a “bite” out of the solar disc.
When was the last total solar eclipse?
The last total solar eclipse anywhere on Earth occurred on April 8, 2024.
Millions of people gathered across North America as the path of totality swept from Mexico through 15 US states and into eastern Canada.
President Donald Trump infamously looked at the Sun – something you should never do – during a total eclipse across America in 2017 Credit: Getty
Day turned into night for over four minutes in some locations.
The will be the world’s first total solar eclipse since that 2024 event.
When was the last solar eclipse visible from the UK?
The last solar eclipse visible from British shores was a partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025.
During that mid-morning event, observers across the UK saw between 30% and 40% of the Sun covered by the Moon, depending on how far north and west they were located.
Earlier minor partial eclipses were also visible from parts of the UK on April 8, 2024 and October 25, 2022.
When was the last total solar eclipse visible in the UK?
The last total eclipse that was visible from British soil took place on August 11, 1999.
On that summer morning, the path of totality crossed Cornwall, parts of South Devon, and the Isles of Scilly, plunging those regions into darkness for just over two minutes.
While only the far southwest experienced totality, the rest of the UK witnessed a dramatic partial eclipse where more than 90% of the Sun was covered – similar to .
The last total eclipse visible from British soil swept across Cornwall, parts of South Devon, and the Isles of Scilly, plunging those regions into darkness for two minutes Credit: PA:Press Association
When is the next eclipse visible from the UK?
If you miss the upcoming August 12 eclipse, you’ll be waiting a very long time for full totality at home.
The next total solar eclipse where totality will be observed directly in the UK will not happen until September 23, 2090.
You won’t have to wait long for the next solar spectacle, as another eclipse will be visible from the UK on August 2, 2027.
Globally, it will be a total solar eclipse, with the path of totality sweeping across southern Spain, Gibraltar, North Africa, and the Middle East, offering more than six minutes of darkness near Luxor, Egypt.
From the UK, it will be a partial eclipse, with the Moon obscuring between 30% and 50% of the Sun depending on how far south you are.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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