Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse will be visible in Plymouth on Wednesday 12 August, a few hours before the British Firework Championships 2026.

Timings

The eclipse is expected to begin at approximately 6.18pm, reach maximum coverage at around 7.15pm, and end at approximately 8.10pm. During the peak, the Moon is expected to cover between 90% and 96% of the Sun. 

Safety Advice 

If you plan to watch, please do so safely. Never look directly at the Sun without suitable eye protection. For safe-viewing guidance, see the UK Health Security Agency’s guide to watching the solar eclipse safely.

Do not look at the Sun - even while wearing sunglasses. Use certified eclipse glasses meeting the international ISO 12312-2:2015(E) safety standard, or use an appropriate indirect viewing method.

You can also watch the eclipse indirectly without specialist equipment. Safe options include:

• a pinhole viewer, which you can easily make at home
• view the Sun's image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves
• project the Sun's image onto a sheet of paper using a simple pinhole projector

Find out more information on how to view the eclipse safely.

Plymouth’s Director of Public Health Professor Steve Maddern, said: “We want people to enjoy both the solar eclipse and the fireworks but please do not look directly at the Sun during the eclipse, even if you are wearing sunglasses.

“Ordinary sunglasses – no matter how dark – do not give adequate protection. They may reduce the glare of the sun, but can still allow harmful solar radiation to reach the retina.”