Cheshire skies set for spectacular partial solar eclipse tonight
People across Cheshire could see most of the Sun covered by the Moon this evening as a major solar eclipse crosses Europe, weather permitting.
By The Guardian
People across Cheshire have the chance to see one of the most impressive solar eclipses visible from the UK in years this evening.
A total solar eclipse is crossing parts of the North Atlantic and Europe on Wednesday, August 12, with the path of totality passing through Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain.
Cheshire is outside that path, meaning the Sun will not disappear completely, but viewers in the county can still expect a deep partial eclipse if skies remain clear enough.
Across the UK, the Moon will cover around 90% or more of the Sun at the height of the event, with the greatest coverage expected towards the west.
The eclipse begins during the late afternoon, with the amount of the Sun obscured gradually increasing as the Moon moves across its face.
For UK observers, the spectacle takes place relatively low in the western sky as sunset approaches.
That means anyone hoping to see it will need a location with a clear view towards the west and north-west, without buildings, trees or other obstacles blocking the horizon.
The event is considerably more dramatic elsewhere in Europe.
Parts of northern Spain will experience totality shortly before sunset, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun for observers positioned inside the narrow path of the total eclipse.
Totality is also visible from parts of Iceland and Greenland.
Large numbers of eclipse watchers have travelled to viewing locations across Europe, while crowds have also gathered in western parts of Britain where a greater proportion of the Sun will be obscured.
Cornwall and parts of west Wales are among the best locations in Britain for the event, with around 95% of the Sun expected to be covered.
Although Cheshire will not experience totality, such a deep partial eclipse can still produce a noticeable change in daylight as the Sun becomes a thin crescent.
Anyone planning to watch the eclipse should take particular care to protect their eyesight.
Looking directly at the Sun without suitable protection can cause permanent eye damage, even when most of the solar disc is hidden by the Moon.
Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for viewing an eclipse.
Observers should use certified solar-eclipse glasses or another recognised method of safe solar viewing. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes also require appropriate solar filters and should never be pointed directly at the Sun without suitable protection.
An alternative is to view the eclipse indirectly using a simple pinhole projection, which allows an image of the partially eclipsed Sun to be projected onto another surface without looking directly at it.
Whether Cheshire residents get a good view will ultimately depend on cloud conditions during the evening.
For those with clear skies, however, the eclipse offers a rare opportunity to watch the Moon cover most of the Sun from Cheshire without travelling abroad.