UK and Ireland towns and cities where you have a chance of seeing the solar eclipse today
Eyes will be firmly fixed on the skies as a total solar eclipse turns daylight into darkness for millions across the world.
The rare natural phenomenon, which only happens in the same location once every 375 years or so, is set to engulf North America.
It is where the Moon and Sun line up in perfectly symmetry, with the Moon blocking all light from the star from reaching specific parts of Earth.
Advert
Passing through Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico, there will be total darkness for those on the so-called 'path of totality'.
And while it's something that is exclusive for a North American audience, there are a whole load of countries that will experience partial solar eclipses later today (8 April).
That includes our very own United Kingdom and Ireland as well as the likes of Jamaica, Portugal, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and Cuba.
A health warning has been issued for the 8 April solar eclipse, with it essential for you to follow expert rules on how to view the event without hurting yourself.
If you own a cat or a dog you should also pay attention.
Where can you see the partial solar eclipse in the UK?
As for the event itself, it'll arrive in the UK at 7.52pm before ending at 8.51pm. However, we'll be experiencing a partial eclipse instead - when the Moon only partially covers the Sun.
According to experts at timeanddate.com, Glasgow will have the best chance of seeing the Moon obscure the Sun.
There, 11.24 percent of the Sun will be taken over by the Moon from 7.54pm to 8.06pm.
In Edinburgh, it'll be a 6.12 percent obscuration from 7.54pm to 8.02pm. And Aberdeen has a smaller obscuration of 4.32 percent from 7.53pm to 8pm.
There is the tiny of chances those in Liverpool experience a fraction of the cosmic event, but the obscuration of the Sun is just 0.64 percent from 7.55pm until 7.57pm.
Where can you see the partial solar eclipse in Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, has a much better chance of seeing the event. It'll arrive in the country at 7.54pm before ending at 8.29pm.
Galway boasts the best spot, with more than one third (34.55 percent) of the Sun obscured by the Moon. This will be from 7.55pm until 8.21pm.
Letterkenny will experience a 21.45 percent obscuration from 7.54pm until 8.13pm.
These other Irish towns and cities are have a really good chance of seeing a partial social eclipse:
- Cork - 19.55 percent from 7.56pm until 8.13pm
- Dublin - 15.46 percent from 7.55pm until 8.10pm
- Dundalk - 18.39 percent from 7.55pm until 8.11pm
- Limerick - 20.07 percent from 7.56pm until 8.13pm
- Waterford - 17.44 percent from 7.56pm until 8.11pm
But as always with the UK and Ireland, the weather plays a big part in this. It's going to be quite cloudy and rainy across both countries which could put a literal dampener on things for even the best placed individuals in Galway.
Don't worry too much though as two solar eclipses are coming to the UK in the next few years.
Topics: Space, UK News, Ireland, World News, Weather, Science
Tom Earnshaw