West Midlands solar eclipse explainer: Exact time residents should look to the skies

Residents across the West Midlands will have the chance to witness a rare solar eclipse this week as the moon moves between the earth and the sun.

The partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK on Wednesday (August 12) with people in the West Midlands able to see the moon appearing to cover most of the surface of the sun.

The event is expected to begin in the early evening, making it an unusual opportunity to see a major astronomical event from the region.

When can the West Midlands see the eclipse?

The eclipse is expected to begin at around 6.15pm, with the maximum eclipse occurring at approximately 7.11pm.

The eclipse is expected to end at around 8.04pm.

The exact appearance of the eclipse will depend on where you are in the West Midlands and local weather conditions.

At its peak, more than 90 per cent the sun will be obscured by the moon. It promises to be the most spectacular partial eclipse since 2015, when some parts of the UK saw the moon cover 83 per cent of the sun.

The further west you travel across the UK, the greater the proportion of the sun that will be covered.

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the sun's light from reaching parts of earth.

During a partial solar eclipse, the three objects do not line up perfectly, meaning only part of the sun is hidden.

For people in the West Midlands, this means the sun will appear to have a large section missing as the eclipse reaches its peak.

Because the event takes place in the evening, the sun will also be relatively low in the sky as the eclipse progresses.

A rare sight for West Midlands residents

Solar eclipses are not particularly unusual on a global scale, but seeing a significant eclipse from a particular part of the world is much rarer.

Wednesday’s eclipse is therefore expected to attract plenty of attention from amateur astronomers and sky watchers across the UK.

For West Midlands residents, the timing also makes this an unusual opportunity to see an astronomical event without having to wait until the early hours of the morning.

Do not look directly at the sun

Anyone hoping to watch the eclipse should take care when looking towards the sun.

Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for viewing a solar eclipse.

Looking directly at the sun can cause serious and permanent damage to your eyes, even when the sun is partially covered.

People should use properly certified solar viewing glasses or approved solar filters designed specifically for observing the sun.

Cameras, binoculars and telescopes should also never be pointed at the sun without the appropriate specialist solar filter.

Another spectacle for sky watchers

The eclipse is also taking place around the same time as the annual Perseid meteor shower, giving astronomy enthusiasts another reason to keep an eye on the skies this week.

The Perseids are one of the best-known meteor showers of the year, although viewing conditions will depend on factors including cloud cover and light pollution.

For people across the West Midlands, Wednesday evening could therefore provide a memorable night of astronomical activity.

The solar eclipse itself, however, will be the main event — and one that sky watchers will need to catch at the right time, as the opportunity will last only for a few hours.