Solar Eclipse 2027: Here's when the next solar eclipse will happen, where you can see totality and can you see it in Scotland?
Many seem set to miss the solar eclipse in Scotland due to cloud (surprise!) but there will be another chance next year.
Many of us will be heading out this evening (Wednesday, August 12) to attempt to catch sight of the partial solar eclipse in the skies over Scotland - with up to 90 per cent of the sun covered by the moon.
It’s the most significant eclipse since 1999 however much of the country is expected to be overcast, meaning many will miss out.
But for stargazers, this is just the warmup for the so-called ‘eclipse of the century’ - which will arrive in less than a year’s time.
Here’s what you need to know about the dramatic celestial event.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, obscuring (or partially obscuring) the sun if you’re looking at it from Earth. Their paths rarely intersect, so it’s a quite a special event to see - particularly a full eclipse when the sun is fully obscured.
When is the next solar eclipse?
The next eclipse will take place on Monday, August 2, 2027, and it will once again be visible in Europe.
How much of the sun will be obscured in Scotland?
It will not be anything like as dramatic as this year’s partial eclipse, and will certainly not get anywhere near totality (when the sun falls completely into shadow). It will, however, still see up to 38 per cent coverage in Edinburgh.
What time will the 2027 partial solar eclipse be in Scotland?
In Scotland the partial eclipse will start at around 9.10am, reach its maximum at around 10am and finish by around 10.50pm.
Where in Europe and beyond will the 2027 eclipse reach totality?
Scottish eclipse chasers won’t have far to travel to get the chance to experience totality (weather willing).
The popular tourist areas of Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and Almeria in southern Spain will see totality and have regular air routes from Scottish airports.
Totality will also be experiences in Gibraltar, Tangier in Morocco, Sfax in Tunisia and in parts of Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia and in Egypt, where it will be seen over the dramatic landscape of Luxor.
How can I watch the partial solar eclipse safely?
Looking directly at the sun during a solar ecplise can cause serious damage to your eyes, or even blindness, so here are a few ways to catch the phenomenon safely:
Use Eclipse glasses
These special glasses mean that you can look at the sun without damaging your eyes. You must check that they are not damaged and come up to strict safety standards - they should have a ISO 12312-2 mark on them.
Pinhole projection
This is the simplest way to see the eclipse without having to buy glasses. Simply make a pinhole in a piece of cardboard and hold it so that the sun shines through it onto a piece of white paper around three feet away. You’ll be able to see the eclipse projected onto the piece of paper.
Find a colander
The holes in a colander creates multiple pinhole projections. Again, hold it so that the sun streams through the holes onto a sheet of white paper and see multiple tiny eclipses projected onto the paper.
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