'Beautiful' phenomena also happening same time as historic UK solar eclipse
The August 12 eclipse will offer the best views across UK skies since 1999
Europe is counting down the hours until the August 12 eclipse, which many have described as a once-in-a-lifetime event. Here in the UK, viewers can expect a partial eclipse, and the views are set to be spectacular.
According to the Met Office: "On Wednesday the UK will experience its greatest eclipse since 1999 and there won’t be one as good as this viewable in the UK until 2081." While many people are buying eclipse glasses to look skyward, there are plenty of other changes to watch for on Wednesday evening.
In a TikTok post, Dr Daisy Dobrijevic, a space journalist and content creator, highlighted five other things to look out for in the UK that will be happening at the same time, including a 'beautiful' natural phenomenon. She told viewers: "If you're watching the solar eclipse on Wednesday, don't just look at the sun.
"Here are five things to look out for that you might otherwise completely miss. First, okay, look at the sun itself. So at maximum eclipse, the moon will cover around 90% of the sun from parts of the UK, leaving behind a beautiful thin crescent. But remember to use your eclipse glasses for this stage.
"Second, look at the ground. If you're near any trees, the tiny gaps between leaves act like pinhole projectors, casting hundreds of tiny crescent-shaped suns beneath them."
She continued: "Third, pay attention to shadows. As the sun becomes a thinner crescent, you might notice shadows starting to look unusually sharp or a little bit strange. Fourth, notice the light around you.
"It won't suddenly become dark like it does during totality, but during a deep partial eclipse, daylight can take on a really unusual, eerie quality. And fifth, just notice how it feels.
"You may even feel the temperature begin to drop as less sunlight reaches the ground. And remember, you'll need certified eclipse glasses to look directly at the sun throughout the entire eclipse."
Advice on safely watching the eclipse is available in this UKHSA blog. The experts said: "Ordinary sunglasses - no matter how dark - do not provide adequate protection for viewing a solar eclipse. They reduce glare, making it feel more comfortable to look at the Sun for longer, while still allowing harmful solar radiation to reach the retina. Never use regular sunglasses to look at the Sun during an eclipse."
The guidance continued: "If you want to use eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, make sure they are genuine eclipse glasses with specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E)."
