We will holding a public observing session for the partial solar eclipse on Wed 12th August 2026. This is a 93% eclipse from Eastbourne and will be low in the evening western sky – lasting from 6:18pm to 8:08pm. It is a total solar eclipse in Greenland, Iceland, Spain and the Balearics. The maximum eclipse will be at 7:14pm.
The society will bring various telescopes with appropriate filtration for viewing the event to Beachy Head Car Park – which has a very good western horizon. Solar eclipse viewing glasses will also be made available for use with the Eyeball Mark 1!
For interest, a colander can be used to project many safe to view ‘pinhole’ images of the eclipse on a piece of white card.
An eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun from our point of view. By chance the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun but is 400 times closer so they are similar in angular size – causing Total Solar Eclipses and sometimes Annular Solar Eclipses when the Moon is slightly further away in its slightly elliptical orbit c.f. Super-Moon and Mini-Moon. They do not happen every New Moon because the orbit of the Moon is slightly askew from the solar plane.
Note that observing cannot be undertaken if we have 100% cloud, or if it is raining – heres hoping for cloud (and rain free) skies. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for observing news.
Warning: You must always use certified filtration to observe the Sun or ANY partial eclipse, or you will suffer immediate and permanent eye damage.