List of solar eclipses visible from the United Kingdom 1000 - 2090 AD
Encyclopedia
This is a list of solar eclipse
s visible from the United Kingdom
between 1000 AD 2091 AD.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
passes between Earth
and the Sun
, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. It is a complete list of total and annular eclipses visible anywhere in the United Kingdom between 1000 AD and 2090 AD and a description of forthcoming partial solar eclipses visible in Britain in the next fifteen years or so.
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
s visible from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 1000 AD 2091 AD.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
passes between Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. It is a complete list of total and annular eclipses visible anywhere in the United Kingdom between 1000 AD and 2090 AD and a description of forthcoming partial solar eclipses visible in Britain in the next fifteen years or so.
The twelfth century (1101 - 1200 AD)
- 2 August 1133
- "King Henry's Eclipse": A total eclipse, recorded in the Peterborough ChroniclePeterborough ChronicleThe Peterborough Chronicle , one of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, contains unique information about the history of England after the Norman Conquest. According to philologist J.A.W...
(under 1135 due to the vagaries of the dating system in use): and the next day, as he lay asleep on ship, the day darkened over all lands, and the Sun was all as it were a three night old moon, and the stars about him at midday.
- "King Henry's Eclipse": A total eclipse, recorded in the Peterborough Chronicle
- 20 March 1140
- A total eclipse, again recorded in the Peterborough Chronicle: After this, in the Lent, the sun and the day darkened about the noon-tide of the day, when men were eating; and they lighted candles to eat by. That was the thirteenth day before the kalends of April.
The fifteenth to sixteenth centuries (1401 - 1600 AD)
- 26 June 1424
- A total eclipse of almost 2 and a half minutes duration in the extreme north of ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Orkney and Shetland.
- A total eclipse of almost 2 and a half minutes duration in the extreme north of Scotland
- 17 June 1433
- Another Scottish total eclipse from the HebridesHebridesThe Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
in the north-west to the EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
borders in the east and then a strip of the YorkshireYorkshireYorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
coast.
- Another Scottish total eclipse from the Hebrides
- February 25, 1598 (March 7, 1598Solar eclipse of March 7, 1598A total solar eclipse occurred on March 7, 1598. It was visible in the United Kingdom with a diagonal track from Cornwall in the south-west to Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland.-References:* * * *...
by Gregorian calendarGregorian calendarThe Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
)- A total eclipse with a diagonal track from CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the south-west to AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in the north-east of Scotland.
- A total eclipse with a diagonal track from Cornwall
The 17th to 19th centuries (1601 - 1900 AD)
- 8 April 1652Solar eclipse of April 8, 1652A total solar eclipse occurred on April 8, 1652. The path of totality intersected the United Kingdom, as well as passing just off the west coast of Norway.- Observations :Observed from Carrickfergus, Scotland, Dr. Wyberg wrote:-References:* * *...
- Another total solar eclipse with a diagonal track, this time across the extreme west of WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the Lake DistrictLake DistrictThe Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
and then Scotland from the south-west to the north-east, including most of the major cities.3 May 1715 Cambridge, England
- Another total solar eclipse with a diagonal track, this time across the extreme west of Wales
- 12 August 1654Solar eclipse of August 12, 1654A total solar eclipse occurred on August 12, 1654. -References:* * *...
- Yet another total eclipse for Scotland, this time a track across the north of Scotland near AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
- Yet another total eclipse for Scotland, this time a track across the north of Scotland near Aberdeen
- 23 September 1699Solar eclipse of September 23, 1699A total solar eclipse occurred on September 23, 1699. A narrow path of totality just clipped the north-east corner of Scotland, including Wick.-References:* * *...
- A narrow path of totality just clipped the north-east corner of Scotland, including WickWick, HighlandWick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
.
- A narrow path of totality just clipped the north-east corner of Scotland, including Wick
- 3 May 1715Solar eclipse of May 3, 1715A total solar eclipse occurred on May 3, 1715. This total eclipse was visible across England, northern Europe, and northern Asia.- Observations :...
- A marvellous British Total Solar Eclipse from CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the south-west to LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and NorfolkNorfolkNorfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in the east. Edmund Halley, (who studied a comet ), observed the eclipse from LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The city of London enjoyed 3 minutes 33 seconds of totality.
- A marvellous British Total Solar Eclipse from Cornwall
- 22 May 1724Solar eclipse of May 22, 1724A total solar eclipse occurred on May 22, 1724. - Observations:This solar eclipse crossed the United Kingdom near sunset, north-west to south-east track, from southern Wales and Devon in the west, eastwards to Hampshire and Sussex, but passing to the south of London.It crossed the city Los Angeles,...
- A fine Total Solar Eclipse with a north-west to south-east track, from southern Wales and DevonDevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in the west, eastwards to HampshireHampshireHampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and SussexSussexSussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, but passing to the south of London.
- A fine Total Solar Eclipse with a north-west to south-east track, from southern Wales and Devon
- There was no Total Solar Eclipse visible from the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 1724 and 1925.
The twentieth century (1901 - 2000 AD)
- 24 January 1925Solar eclipse of January 24, 1925A total solar eclipse occurred on January 24, 1925. - Observations :It was seen in New York City. It was reported that those above 96th Street in Manhattan saw a total solar eclipse while those below 96th Street saw a partial eclipse.-References:...
- Total Solar Eclipse: A short duration total eclipse at sunsetSunsetSunset or sundown is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon in the west as a result of Earth's rotation.The time of sunset is defined in astronomy as the moment the trailing edge of the Sun's disk disappears below the horizon in the west...
in BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
waters to the north of the HebridesHebridesThe Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
, but nowhere touching land.
- Total Solar Eclipse: A short duration total eclipse at sunset
- 29 June 1927Solar eclipse of June 29, 1927A total solar eclipse occurred on June 29, 1927. The path of totality crossed far northern Europe and Asia. This was the first total eclipse visible from British mainland soil for 203 years.-References:* *...
- Total Solar Eclipse: A mere 24 seconds of totality in the early morning, along a narrow track from North WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, through LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
to the English north-east coast, but weather was very poor with cloud and high winds. However the Astronomer RoyalAstronomer RoyalAstronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
's expedition to GiggleswickGiggleswickGiggleswick is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England near the town of Settle. It is the site of Giggleswick School.-Origin of name:A Dictionary of British Place Names contains the entry:...
in North YorkshireNorth YorkshireNorth Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
was amongst the few to catch sight of totality.
- Total Solar Eclipse: A mere 24 seconds of totality in the early morning, along a narrow track from North Wales
- 30 June 1954Solar eclipse of June 30, 1954A total solar eclipse occurred on June 30, 1954. Totality began at sunrise over the United States over Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and crossed into Canada, across southern Greenland, and Iceland, then into Europe, across Sweden, Norway, and eastern Europe...
- Total Solar Eclipse at UnstUnstUnst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and is the third largest island in Shetland after the Mainland and Yell. It has an area of .Unst is largely grassland, with coastal cliffs...
in the Shetland IslandsShetland IslandsShetland is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north and east of mainland Great Britain. The islands lie some to the northeast of Orkney and southeast of the Faroe Islands and form part of the division between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east. The total...
, although the centre line was north of British territorial waters. A large partial eclipse was widely observed over the whole of the UK.
- Total Solar Eclipse at Unst
- 2 October 1959Solar eclipse of October 2, 1959A total solar eclipse occurred on October 2, 1959. -Observations:Totality began over Boston, Massachusetts at sunrise. Viewing the eclipse was raining out, but it was reported that the brightening of the sky after the eclipse was a startling and impressive sight. The next total eclipse over Boston,...
- A partial eclipse visible over the whole of the United Kingdom ranging from approximately 20% in Northern Scotland to approximately 40% in South West Cornwall.
- 15 February 1961Solar eclipse of February 15, 1961A total solar eclipse occurred on February 15, 1961. -References:*...
- The United Kingdom was greeted at dawn with a large portion of the Sun covered with maximum eclipse being approximately on the horizon ranging from 85% in Northern Scotland to between 92% and 95% in Southern England.
- 12 October 1996Solar eclipse of October 12, 1996A partial solar eclipse occurred on October 12, 1996. - External links :*...
- A partial solar eclipse which covered 60% of the Sun over the British Isles.
- 11 August 1999
- Total Solar Eclipse over CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and part of south DevonDevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, partial over the rest of the United Kingdom. Totality was observable from English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and the island of AlderneyAlderneyAlderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide. The area is , making it the third-largest island of the Channel Islands, and the second largest in the Bailiwick...
in the Channel IslandsChannel IslandsThe Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, but was almost universally clouded out on the British mainland. The clouds did clear in the Newquay area though allowing observation of full totality. A large partial eclipse was viewable in the southeast of England and south Wales, however. Observers in Cardiff noted birds falling silent, daylight colours turning shades of grey, and temperatures falling, augmented by a passing wisp of cloud at the moment of peak eclipse!
- Total Solar Eclipse over Cornwall
The twenty first century (2001 - 2091 AD)
- 31 May 2003Solar eclipse of May 31, 2003An annular solar eclipse occurred on May 31, 2003. Annularity was visible across central Greenland and northern Scotland. Partiality was visible throughout Europe, Asia, and far northwestern Canada.-References:Photos:* *...
- An annular solar eclipse at sunriseSunriseSunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight...
was visible in the far north-west of ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
- An annular solar eclipse at sunrise
- 29 March 2006
- A partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK. South-eastern EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
saw the greatest magnitude at around 25%, northern ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the least at around 15%. The eclipse was total in LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
- A partial solar eclipse was visible across the UK. South-eastern England
- 1 August 2008Solar eclipse of August 1, 2008A total solar eclipse occurred on August 1, 2008. It had a magnitude of 1.0394 that was visible from a narrow corridor through northern Canada , Greenland, central Russia, eastern Kazakhstan, western Mongolia and China. Occurring north of the arctic circle, it belonged to the so-called midnight sun...
- A small partial eclipse over the whole of the UK as a total eclipse crosses central RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
east of the Urals. 40% in the north of Scotland falling to less than 20% in the south-west of England.
- A small partial eclipse over the whole of the UK as a total eclipse crosses central Russia
- 4 January 2011Solar eclipse of January 4, 2011The solar eclipse of January 4, 2011 was a partial eclipse of the Sun that was visible after sunrise over most of Europe , northwestern and South Asia. It ended at sunset over eastern Asia...
- A partial eclipse, which was nowhere total, could be seen at sunrise in south-east England, where with a favourable south-eastern horizon a Sun 75% covered by the Moon was seen.
- 20 March 2015Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015A total solar eclipse will occur on March 20, 2015. It will have a magnitude of 1.045. The longest duration of totality will be 2 minutes 47 seconds off the coast of the Faroe Islands. It is the last solar eclipse visible in Europe until the eclipse of August 12, 2026...
- An eclipse which is total across the north Atlantic including the Faroe IslandsFaroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
will result in a large partial eclipse across the UK, greater than 80% everywhere.
- An eclipse which is total across the north Atlantic including the Faroe Islands
- 11 August 2018Solar eclipse of August 11, 2018A partial solar eclipse will occur on August 11, 2018. - External links :...
- A very small partial eclipse on the northern coast of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland.
- 10 June 2021Solar eclipse of June 10, 2021An annular solar eclipse will occur on June 10, 2021. This eclipse will be unusual as the path of the total eclipse will move from to the north east, then north, north west, west, south west, south, and finally south east across the Arctic, while most eclipse paths move west to east. This reversal...
- An eclipse which is annular across Canada and the Arctic gives rise to partial eclipse across Britain ranging from 50% in northern Scotland to 30% in south-east England.
- 25 October 2022Solar eclipse of October 25, 2022A partial solar eclipse will occur on October 25, 2022....
- An eclipse which is nowhere total results in a partial eclipse across Britain with north-east Scotland the most favoured, at around 35% falling to less than 20% in CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
- An eclipse which is nowhere total results in a partial eclipse across Britain with north-east Scotland the most favoured, at around 35% falling to less than 20% in Cornwall
- 23 September 2090Solar eclipse of September 23, 2090A total solar eclipse will occur on September 23, 2090. -References:...
- Total Solar Eclipse: the next total eclipse visible in the UK follows a track similar to that of 11 August 1999, but shifted slightly further north and occurring very near sunset. Maximum duration in CornwallCornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
will be 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Same day and month as the eclipse of 23 September 1699.
- Total Solar Eclipse: the next total eclipse visible in the UK follows a track similar to that of 11 August 1999, but shifted slightly further north and occurring very near sunset. Maximum duration in Cornwall
- 18 February 2091Solar eclipse of February 18, 2091A partial solar eclipse will occur on February 18, 2091.- External links :*...
- A Partial Solar eclipse viewable from most areas of England (mostly Northern England). It will be visible from 08:25am to 10:55am, and at its peak at around 09:30am. Maximum duration is approximately 2 Hours and 30 Minutes