Chance of seeing partial solar eclipse from Caithness tonight

The solar eclipse taking place across north America tonight should be a real spectacle – but what will we be able to see from Caithness?

Viewers in some parts of Britain and Ireland could get a glimpse of a partial eclipse just before sunset.

While reports have referred to the “west” of the country getting the best views, assuming the cloud doesn’t obscure the view, observers in the far north should also get a chance to see it.

The Royal Astronomical Society’s Dr Robert Massey said there was an “outside chance” of seeing the partial eclipse from the UK.

A partial eclipse happens when part of the sun’s light is blocked from reaching the Earth by the moon.

The next full eclipse from the UK won’t be seen until 2090.

The April 8, 2024 eclipse should begin in Caithness at 7.53pm and last for just 17 minutes. The maximum point of the eclipse will be at 8.06pm, but with the sun setting at 8.10pm, it will be low on the horizon.

People are encouraged to view the eclipse safely by using precautions such as “eclipse shades”, as looking at the sun directly with the naked eye can cause blindness or other serious damage.

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