How to view the partial solar eclipse from the UK this Saturday
You should never look directly at the Sun
It was only a month ago that stargazers were treated to a planetary parade as seven of the eight planets were visible in the sky, and then earlier this month we were treated to a lunar eclipse.
Now, this Saturday everyone will get the chance to witness another celestial event as the UK will have a partial solar eclipse.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is obscured by the Sun. Despite being very different distances from the Earth, the Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky.
During a total solar eclipse the Moon totally covers the Sun plunging the day into darkness briefly.
REMEMBER! NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN
What is a partial solar eclipse?
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon only partially covers the Sun in the sky. Because of this, it means that it will be briefly darker, but not completely dark like during a total solar eclipse. This is the type of eclipse we will experience in the UK on Saturday 29th March.
When is the eclipse visible from the UK?
The eclipse will take place in the morning on Saturday 29th March. The Moon will begin to move over the Sun at 10:07am. The Sun will be covered the most at 11:05am, before the Moon then moves away from the Sun. The Moon will have totally left the Sun's disc by 12.03pm. These times are for central UK and will differ slightly depending on where you are in the country.
How much of the Sun will be covered?
The amount of the Sun that is covered by the Moon will depend on where you are viewing it from. The most coverage will be in Northwest Scotland where viewers can expect 47.8% of the Sun's disc to be covered.
Southeast England will have 28.1% of the Sun's disc obscured.
How to view the partial solar eclipse
If you have a clear sky then the easiest and safest way to view a solar eclipse is using a pinhole projector. Remember, it's important to never look directly at the Sun as it can cause blindness.
NASA have produced a handy video on how to create a pinhole projector using a cereal box.
Cloudy skies? Don't worry, you can also watch the partial solar eclipse online on YouTube.
After the solar eclipse, it won't be long until the next astronomical event which will be the Lyrid meteor shower set to take place between 16th April and 25th April.
Take a look at tips for viewing shooting stars:
1. Dark sky
You might not realise how much light pollution there is in your neighbourhood, find out more about light pollution and where you can find a really dark sky here.
Allow your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Don't forget that the moon can also interfere so try to avoid times when it is visible.
2. Date and time
To increase your chances of seeing some meteors make sure you find out the best time to look for them. Often it is when the sky is at its darkest (in the middle of the night), or if there is a meteor shower, when the radiant (where the meteors come from - the constellation Leo) is high in the sky.
3. Look in the right area
It sounds obvious, but the sky is a very large area and meteors are very fast! Make sure you know which area of the sky you should be looking in. The Perseids come from Perseus, the easiest way to find it would be to use a free sky map app on your phone.
4. Good weather
Again, it seems obvious, but there's no point in standing in the cold when it's cloudy. Check the weather forecast before going outside, and if it's going to be clear later on then wait until then if you can.
5. Don't use a telescope or binoculars
Using a telescope or binoculars will DECREASE your chances of seeing a meteor. Meteors are so quick that you are likely to miss them if you don't use the naked eye. Save your telescope or binoculars for the moon or planets.
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