Eclipse 2026 in Portsmouth: When is the best time to see it?
Portsmouth will have the chance to witness a solar spectacle, with the maximum eclipse taking place at 7.14pm.
A partial solar eclipse will take place today, Wednesday August 12, and the south east will be one of the best places to see the cosmic wonder take place.
At 6.18pm this evening, the moon will start to pass in between the sun and the earth, causing the sun to appear like a crescent in the sky. The peak of the partial eclipse, where the moon covers the majority of the sun and casts its shadow onto earth, will be at 7.14pm in Portsmouth.
The Royal Museums Greenwich has said that this event will be “as close to a total eclipse as we’ve seen in almost 27 years from the British Isles”. The UK's next total solar eclipse is due around 2090.
This evening is predicted to have clear skies, with temperatures of up to 26C, making it the perfect conditions to view this historic event.
The best places to see the eclipse will have a good view to the west, so high points like Portsdown Hill and The Round Tower will be the best places in the city to get a full view of this once-in-a-decade event. For a more atmospheric view, Spice Island will also be a good westerly facing place to sit with a drink and solar spectacle. The Spinnaker Tower is also staying open until 8pm, giving visitors the chance to view the cosmological marvel from 100 metres up.
While Butser Hill, the highest peak of the South Downs and just south of Petersfield, is a perfect place for those prepared to travel further, Queen Elizabeth Country Park has warned people to arrive early.
“Please be aware that the Butser Hill car park may fill up quickly. Parking on the road to the top is hazardous and blocks access for emergency vehicles,” Hampshire County Council have said in a Facebook post. “We have plenty of space at the country park and suggest walking to the top.
It is important to remember that you do not look directly into the sun without eye protection, such as eclipse glasses. Normal sunglasses won't be sufficient to keep your eyes protected.
Cardboard eclipse glasses have been flying off the shelves at city shops, and are being re-sold on Facebook Marketplace for as much as £10 a pair.
However, if you don’t have a pair of eclipse glasses, there are still safe ways to enjoy the event.
Indirect viewing of the eclipse is safe - one method is using a pen to make a hole in the middle of a sheet of paper, and projecting the light that passes through the hole onto another sheet of paper. You could also use a colander instead, using the holes to project the eclipse.
The News will also be live streaming the eclipse and getting reactions from the crowd on Facebook.