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Watch today's partial solar eclipse

26 March 2025, 13:47 | Updated: 29 March 2025, 10:38

Stargazers can catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse this morning, where the sun looks like it's had a bite taken out of it.

It only occurs a handful of times a year, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and partly obscures the star.

Here's what you need to know if you're watching it around the UK.

When is it?

It is visible in the UK until 12.14pm today.

For people in the southeast of England - where the weather means views are best - the peak of the eclipse will be at around 11.03am.

This is when the eclipse reaches its "maximum" - the moment when the greatest portion of the sun is hidden.

According to the Royal Observatory, around 30-40% of the sun will be obscured.

Where is the best place to see it?

Some parts of the UK are seeing more of the eclipse than others. Northwest Scotland has the most coverage with 47.9% in Gallan Head.

Dover in southeast England has the least coverage of the sun with only 28.1% of it blocked by the moon, while Manchester has 36.1% of coverage.

Check the forecast where you are

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: "The further northwest you are in the UK, the more of an eclipse you are likely to have, whereas towards the southeast it's a little bit less - but still 30%, and still a large chunk taken out of the sun."

Some parts of the UK, especially in the north, may be too cloudy to see the phenomenon, however.

How can I give myself the best chance of seeing it?

Even though part of the sun are covered, its brightness is still dangerous to the naked eye, so experts say it can cause serious and permanent damage if you look straight at it without appropriate protection.

Also: standard sunglasses do not count as protection.

You can use a pinhole projector or solar eclipse viewing glasses to view the eclipse.

You can make pinhole projectors at home, simply by making a hole in a piece of card, holding the card up to the sun and holding another piece of paper behind the card.

The shape of the sun will appear projected onto the paper, without harming you.