Partial Solar Eclipse in Glasgow

The group welcomed the BBC’s The One Show and presenter Jennifer Reoch to the University’s Acre Road Observatory to observe a partial solar eclipse. The maximum eclipse occurred at 19:06 on August 12 2026, with 91% of the Sun hidden by the Moon. Some group members were in Spain where a total solar eclipse was visible.

The last time a partial eclipse of this magnitude occurred in Glasgow was back in 2015 and 1999. In the coming years there will be partial eclipses in Glasgow but it will be quite some time before we see one at this level again: September 3 2081 will see 77% maximum coverage in Glasgow, September 23 2090 will get 95%, with a total eclipse for the South Coast of England. The next total eclipse in Glasgow isn’t until October 7 2135, so if you want to see one you really need to travel. Fortunately, a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months.

Unfortunately, this time the clouds obscured both the Sun and Moon, so it was difficult to see the partial eclipse. However, it did get noticeably darker and cooler.