Exact time to see solar eclipse in Blackpool and the Fylde coast and how long it will last
Everything you need to know about the solar eclipse...
The partial solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, August 12, as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out a large proportion of the Sun’s disc.
People hoping to catch a glimpse of this week’s spectacular solar eclipse on the Fylde Coast are being urged to get into position before 6.13pm, with the most impressive stage expected shortly after 7pm.
In Blackpool, the eclipse will begin at approximately 6.13pm with ‘first contact’ when the Moon first covers part of the disk of the Sun. It will reach its maximum at 7.09pm, when around 91.65% of the Sun’s disc will be covered. The event will then gradually come to an end at around 8.04pm.
That means the entire eclipse will last for just under one hour and 51 minutes, although the period around maximum coverage will be the moment many spectators are waiting for.
At 7.09pm, the Sun will be only around 13 degrees above the horizon, meaning location will be particularly important for anyone hoping to see the eclipse clearly. A spot with an unobstructed view towards the western sky will give spectators the best chance of seeing the Moon pass across the Sun.
Across the wider Fylde Coast, timings will be very similar, although they can vary by a few minutes depending on the precise viewing location. The wider Fylde area is expected to experience around 92.6% coverage, making it one of the more impressive parts of the region from which to watch the event.
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With the Sun relatively low in the sky, people planning to watch from Blackpool’s seafront, the beaches around St Annes, Lytham, Cleveleys, Fleetwood or other coastal locations should choose a position with as few buildings, trees or other obstructions as possible.
The eclipse is a partial eclipse in the UK, rather than a total eclipse, so the Sun will not disappear completely. Nevertheless, more than nine-tenths of the Sun will be covered over Blackpool at maximum, creating a striking celestial spectacle.
Anyone planning to watch should also remember that the Sun must never be viewed directly without suitable certified solar eye protection, even during an eclipse.