Next month, keen astronomers around the world will be able to witness a spectacular celestial event – a solar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

In some parts of America, those standing directly in the moon’s shadow on Earth will witness the moon move slowly in front of the sun until it completely covers the surface, leaving only a thin ring of light around the edge of the colossal burning star on Monday, August 21.

If you aren’t lucky enough to be in America to witness the total eclipse, those in the UK may be able to see the sun partially blocked by the moon.

The next total eclipse is due to take place in the UK on September 23, 2090

Dr Andrew Thornett, chairman of Rosliston Astronomy Group, says the group are holding a free public observing event from 7pm the evening of the eclipse at the Rosliston Forestry Centre, near Swadlincote, and all are welcome to attend.

He said: "The solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 will be one of the most attended and most widely reported solar eclipse of all time as it crosses the USA from one side to the other.

"Although it won't be a total solar eclipse of the sun in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, we can still take part in this exciting event by observing a small partial eclipse. If the sky remains clear, we should be in for an exciting time!"

The last solar eclipse the UK saw was on March 20, 2015. The phenomenon doesn’t take place very often, so if you’re keen to witness the rare display, it’s worth educating yourself about the eclipse.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses take place because the moon orbits the Earth at an average of 239,000 miles, which is just the right distance for it to appear the same size in the sky as the much larger sun, which is 93 million miles away.

When the disk of the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, its perimeter appears to completely cover the sun in the sky – known as a total solar eclipse. If part of the sun is still visible, it is known as a partial solar eclipse.

A total eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun's surface
A total eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun's surface

Where can I witness the solar eclipse?

If you wish to see the total eclipse, you would need to be in one of 11 US states passing right through the middle of the country – either Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgie, North Carolina and South Carolina. There hasn't been a total solar eclipse in the United States since 1979.

Like us in the UK, the rest of the USA will witness a partial eclipse of around four per cent of the sun covered by the moon.

What time is the solar eclipse?

The eclipse will begin over the Pacific Ocean at 15:46 GMT on August 21. For those in the UK, the eclipse will start shortly after 19:30 GMT local time and reach its peak at 20:00.

Be careful not to damage your eyes

Looking directly at the sun can be very harmful for your eyes. If you're planning to watch the solar eclipse, you should access a pair of solar viewing glasses.

They have special-purpose solar filters, which filter out all the harmful ultraviolet and infrared light and intense visible light to allow you to view the eclipse safely.

If you can't find any CE approved glasses, it’s worth looking at viewing the eclipse using other techniques, such as a pinhole projection.

I’m going to miss this year’s partial eclipse – when’s the next one?

A very small partial eclipse is due to take place in the UK on August 11, 2018, but will only be visible on the northern coast of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, and the moon will only cover around two per cent of the sun's surface.

A large partial solar eclipse is due to be visible across Britain on August 12, 2026, with around 96 per cent of the sun being covered by the moon.

The next total eclipse will be visible in the UK on September 23, 2090.

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