People across Sunderland will soon be able to watch a partial solar eclipse as 90 to 96 percent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.

On Wednesday, August 12, people across the UK will have the chance to witness a partial solar eclipse as the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, partially blocking the Sun’s light.

What time can you see the solar eclipse in Sunderland?

The Moon begins to cover the Sun at around 6.10pm, with the full eclipse expected at around 7.07pm.

At this point, around 90 to 96 percent of the Sun will be covered.

The eclipse will then come to an end at around 8pm.

The entire event is expected to last just under two hours in Sunderland.

Where are the best places to watch the solar eclipse in Sunderland?

People across Sunderland will soon be able to see a partial solar eclipse as 90 to 96 percent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.

placeholder image — People across Sunderland will soon be able to see a partial solar eclipse as 90 to 96 percent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.

As the solar eclipse is taking place later in the day, it is best to find an open space to watch, where your view will not be blocked by buildings.

Penshaw Monument has been named as one of the places you are most likely to see the solar eclipse by Chris Duffy, chair of the Sunderland Astronomical Society.

Chris said: “The eclipse is happening in the early evening so the sun will be low to the west.

“Find a location with a good view of the low western horizon. High ground with a good western view.”

Other open spaces in Sunderland that could make good viewing spots include:

Tunstall Hills;
Ryhope Clifftops;
Seven Sisters, Houghton-le-Spring.

How do you watch the solar eclipse safely at home?

There are plenty of ways to watch the solar eclipse safely.

Chris said: “When it comes to observing the eclipse itself, it is very important not to look directly at the sun unless you have special eclipse glasses.

"Ordinary sunglasses will not block enough of the sun and are not safe.

“If you don't have special glasses, then a safe way is to put a pinhole in a piece of card and project an image of the Sun onto the ground or a wall.”

You can use eclipse glasses, which block out the Sun’s harmful rays and allow you to look at the Sun safely.

Regular sunglasses are not safe to use as they do not have enough UV protection.

You can also make a pinhole projector at home, which allows you to project the Sun’s light onto another surface so you are not looking directly at it.

To do this, take two pieces of paper and make a small hole in one, and then hold it above another to see the shadow being cast on the Sun.

You can also hold up a colander and look at its shadow.

Tree leaves are natural pinhole projectors. Simply look at the shadows cast by the leaves on the ground.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich, in London, will be live streaming the eclipse using one of its modern telescopes, giving people across the UK the chance to watch the event safely.

You can watch the live stream here.