How to watch 'the best eclipse in a decade'
They've nicknamed it the 'Ring of Fire' 🔥🌓
Last updated 10th Jun 2021
2021’s biggest celestial event will take place this morning (10th June) as 60 countries witness a chunk taken out of the sun, as the moon passes between the earth and the sun.
It's estimated that we'll see around 31% of the sun obscured by the moon. The further north you are, the more of the sun will be obscured by the moon.
Although this won’t be quite as spectacular as a total solar eclipse, it will still be mesmerising to watch.
It's predicted to begin around 10am and will last for more than two hours, with the peak from 11am.
This type of eclipse is called an annular eclipse and occurs when the sun and moon are exactly in line with the Earth, but the apparent size of the moon is smaller than that of the sun.
This causes the sun to appear as a very bright ring, or annulus, in a phenomenon dubbed as the “ring of fire”.
But weather permitting, observers in the UK and Ireland will see a crescent sun instead of a ring, as this will be a partial eclipse.
The Met Office has said parts of the UK will see clouds covering the skies although most regions are expected to remain dry.
How to safely watch the solar eclipse:
You need to take precautions to observe it safely. You shouldn't look directly at the sun at any time, it can cause damage to your eyes.
Eclipse glasses that allow the sun to be viewed safely can be used - regular UV sunglasses do not offer enough protection. If you don't have Eclipse glasses, you can watch it indirectly using a projection device such as a pinhole camera.
Top astronomy tips
If the eclipse has made you want to know more about what's above us, check out our top tips for stargazers:
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.