Urgent warning over solar eclipse in DAYS where nearly half the sun will disappear – you won’t see another until 2026

THE UK is set to be graced with a partial solar eclipse next week, where nearly half the Sun will turn black.

This kind of solar display only happens once every 18 months or so – with the next partial eclipse visible from the UK on 12 August 2026.

Only 11 partial, annular, or total eclipses have been visible from the British Isles since 2003.

But those wanting to catch a glimpse of the rare sight must exercise caution.

Looking at the Sun directly, even during a partial solar eclipse, can cause temporary and permanent eye damage in less than a minute.

You may not even realise the damage that has been done at first.

It can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse for symptoms of eye damage to occur.

People who look at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can experience loss of vision, distorted vision and altered colour vision.

The only time you can safely view a solar eclipse without special equipment is during totality – the brief moment the solar disk turns completely black.

However, this only occurs during a total solar eclipse – and the event on 29 March will only be a partial eclipse.

Solar eclipse glasses and handheld viewers with the ISO 12312-2 standard must be used to watch the eclipse at all times.

You should seek treatment from an eyecare professional if you notice symptoms after viewing a solar eclipse.

A partial eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth – but the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned.

This means that only part of the Sun is hidden by the Moon.

As much as 40% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon's shadow in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In London and the southeast of the UK, the Sun will be around 30% covered.

But the UK will have one of the best views in the continent, Dr Greg Brown, Senior Public Astronomy Officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Flying Eze.

“The only country inEurope with a better view [than the UK] will be Iceland with a magnitude of 0.74 which is about 68% coverage of the Sun,” he said.

The event will last about two hours, beginning at 10am and ending at 12pm.

The maximum – when the Sun is at its most hidden – will fall in between.

“While the timings vary slightly across the UK, the eclipse will be at its fullest at 11am,” explained Dr Brown.

“Though it is worth looking out for first and last contact, the point at which the Moon starts and ends its coverage of the Sun.”