On Tuesday, October 25, 2022 a partial solar eclipse will be visible though only through solar … [+]
The third prime minster of the U.K. in just 50 days could have their first full day in their new job marked by a rare eclipse of the Sun.
By 21:00 BST on Monday, October 24, 2022—and possibly as early as 14:00 BST—a new prime minister could be appointed.
The next day on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 a partial solar eclipse will be visible from Europe including the U.K., western Asia, the Middle East and northeast Africa.
During the event the New Moon will obscure up to a maximum of 85% of the Sun as seen during a stunning sunset in western Siberia in Russia.
The Moon will start to cross the Sun at 08:58 Universal Time (UTC), peaking at 11:00 UTC and leaving the Sun at 13:02 UTC.
Across the U.K. it will visible during the morning at an altitude of about 12º-20º in the southeastern sky.
- In London, England, a maximum of 15% of the Sun will be blocked out. The eclipse begins at 10:09 BST, maximum eclipse is at 10:59 BST and the eclipse ends at 11:51 BST.
- In Cardiff, Wales, 12% of the Sun will be blocked out. The eclipse begins at 10:09 BST, maximum eclipse is at 10:56 BST and the eclipse ends at 11:44 BST.
- In Edinburgh, Scotland, 19% of the Sun will be blocked out. The eclipse begins at 10:03 BST, maximum eclipse is at 10:55 BST and the eclipse ends at 11:49 BST.
- In Belfast, Northern Ireland 14% of the Sun will be blocked out. The eclipse begins at 10:05 BST, maximum eclipse is at 10:53 BST and the eclipse ends at 11:42 BST.
- The biggest eclipse in the UK at 29% will be seen in Skaw on the Shetland Islands—the U.K.’s most northerly point—where the eclipse begins at 10:00 BST, maximum eclipse is at 10:58 BST and the eclipse ends at 11:57 BST.
This website lets you enter a location and get an exact local timetable for the eclipse, but here’s a useful chart from the Society for Popular Astronomy.
When is the partial solar eclipse in the U.K. one October 25, 2022?
How to safely view the eclipse of the Sun
Viewing a partial solar eclipse is dangerous to the eyes because of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Here’s how to view it safely, according to the U.K.’s Royal Astronomical Society:
- Solar eclipse glasses—though do check there are no scratches or tiny holes in the solar film.
- Indirect viewing via a pinhole in a piece of card through which an image of the Sun can be projected on to another piece of card about 30cm behind it. Never look through the pinhole.
- The mirror projection method requires a small, flat mirror and a means of placing it in the sun so that it reflects the sunlight into a room where you can view it on a wall or some sort of a flat screen.
- The binocular projection method requires a tripod and the lens caps in place on one of the objective lenses. Fit one piece of card with a hole in it over the eyepiece, and place another between 50 cm and a metre behind it. Point the telescope or binoculars towards the Sun and you should see its bright image on the separate card. Bring this to a focus and enjoy viewing the eclipse in a safe, effective way.
- Solar filters that fit over the large end of a telescope or over the objective lenses of binoculars.
Can I look at an eclipsed Sun through cloud?
It’s not safe to do so. Great care needs to be taken because even a slither of an un-eclipsed Sun is very, very bright. In practice you might be tempted if the eclipse is virtually hidden by cloud and just occasionally appears slightly visible.
If there is a lot of cloud and you’re tempted to take the filters off, don’t ever look through your camera’s optical viewfinder. Instead, use the LCD screen.
Partial eclipse of the Sun, 20 July 1982. Captured from Harefield in the UK.
The next solar eclipse in America
Although it won’t be possible for North Americans to see any of the Sun eclipsed by the Moon on this occasion, it does indicate the beginning of an “eclipse season.” The event puts the Moon in position to cause a total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon” in two weeks on November 7/8—one that will be observable from most of North America.
Most easily seen from western and central U.S. states as well as from the Pacific, Japan, Australia and Russia, during the event the full “Beaver Moon” will turn a spectacular reddish color for 84 minutes.
It will be the final total lunar eclipse visible from North America until 2025 and won’t be topped in terms of duration until a 102 minute totality on June 26, 2029.
Disclaimer: I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of The Complete Guide To The “Great North American Eclipse” of April 8, 2024.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
