As looking directly into the sun is extremely dangerous, people have to find safe ways to witness special events like solar eclipses. From making our own devices to watching the event online, there are multiple ways to marvel at this weekend’s celestial event. Plus, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is making things even easier for us by live streaming the partial solar eclipse online using their modern telescopes.
When is the March partial solar eclipse in London?
The upcoming partial solar eclipse will take place on Saturday, March 29 between 10:07am and 12pmlasting one hour and 53 minutes. The peak of the eventwhere 30-40% of the sun is covered by the moon, is at 11:03 AM.
What is a partial solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse is a celestial event when the sun is directly covered by the moon, due to its positioning between the Earth and the sun. As a result, the type of the solar eclipse will depend on where one is watching from on the planet, as well as “on the relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon”.
A total solar eclipse covers the sun completely, preventing any light from reaching the Earth where the moon’s shadow is created. Unfortunately, we will not get to witness a total solar eclipse in the UK until 2090.
An annular solar eclipse (‘annulus’ means “ring” in Latin) occurs when the moon does not entirely cover the sun, and its edges can still be seen, creating a visual of a ring. A partial solar eclipse is when a part of the sun is covered by the moon.
How can I see the upcoming partial solar eclipse in London?
Firstly, NEVER look directly at the sun, as doing so can cause permanent damage. To watch the upcoming partial solar eclipse live this weekend (March 29), head to the Royal Observatory Greenwich YouTube channel or Facebook to watch the live stream and listen to Dr Greg Brown talk about the science behind solar eclipses starting at 10am.
And those wanting to try watching the event themselves can check their local astronomical society for solar eclipse watching events. The gatherings will usually provide the appropriate instruments, such as telescopes fitted with the correct filters.
Watchers can also purchase solar eclipse viewing glassesor make a watching device by cutting a circle in a card and covering it with a piece of paper, called a pinhole projector.
