12/08/2026
Tonight, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, creating a striking partial solar eclipse visible from Cumbria.
Here, the eclipse will begin at around 6.11pm and reach its maximum at approximately 7.08pm, when around 92% of the Sun will be obscured, before ending shortly after 8pm.
Eclipses have fascinated people for thousands of years. In ancient Mesopotamia, they were carefully observed and recorded, but could also be regarded as ominous signs. A solar eclipse was considered a particularly serious omen, with the potential to signal danger for a ruler and his kingdom.
Those same civilisations were also responsible for some remarkable feats of construction. Buildings, temples and city walls were constructed on a monumental scale, while inscribed bricks and clay cylinders were sometimes deliberately buried within foundations to record building works and preserve the memory of those who commissioned them.
A few thousand years later, construction has changed considerably. We tend to rely rather more on surveys, drawings, specifications, calculations and carefully planned work than celestial omens.
But there is still something special about seeing an eclipse.
If you're hoping to watch tonight, find somewhere with a clear view towards the western horizon. Most importantly, never look directly at the Sun without proper solar protection. Use certified eclipse glasses or an approved indirect viewing method.
Here's hoping for clear skies over Cumbria.
