On Monday the US will experience the first total solar eclipse in 99 years, with a partial solar eclipse also visible from parts of the UK.
What time is the solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse will take place on Monday 21 August 2017.
The phenomenon will begin at 9.05am PDT in Salem, Oregon, reaching totality at 10.17am PDT. In Columbia, South Carolina the partial eclipse will begin at 1.13pm EDT and reach totality at 2.41pm EDT.
| Location | Eclipse begins | Totality begins | Totality ends | Eclipse ends |
| Salem, OR | 09.05am PDT | 10.17am PDT | 10.19am PDT | 11.37am PDT |
| Madras, OR | 9.06am PDT | 10.19am PDT | 10.21am PDT | 11.41am PDT |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 10.15am MDT | 11.33am MDT | 11.34am MDT | 12.58am MDT |
| Casper, WY | 10.22am MDT | 11.42am MDT | 11.45am MDT | 1.09pm MDT |
| Lincoln, NE | 11.37am CDT | 1.02pm CDT | 1.03pm CDT | 2.29pm CDT |
| Jefferson City, MO | 11.46am CDT | 1.13pm CDT | 1.15pm CDT | 2.41pm CDT |
| Carbonale, IL | 11.52am CDT | 1.20pm CDT | 1.22pm CDT | 2.47pm CDT |
| Paducah, KY | 11.54am CDT | 1.22pm CDT | 1.24pm CDT | 2.49pm CDT |
| Nashville, TN | 11.58am CDT | 1.27pm CDT | 1.29pm CDT | 2.54pm CDT |
| Clayton, GA | 1.06pm EDT | 2.35pm EDT | 2.38pm EDT | 4.01pm EDT |
| Columbia, SC | 1.13pm EDT | 2.41pm EDT | 2.44pm EDT | 4.06pm EDT |
Can I watch the solar eclipse in the UK?
The Total Solar Eclipse will be viewable only in North America, though here in the UK we should be able to see a partial eclipse in areas in which there is no cloud between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
| Location | Start of partial eclipse | Maximum eclipse | End of partial eclipse |
| Aberdeen | 7.37pm | 7.56pm | 8.14pm |
| Glasgow | 7.37pm | 7.56pm | 8.19pm |
| Belfast | 7.37pm | 8pm | 8.23pm |
| Edinburgh | 7.38pm | 7.58pm | 8.18pm |
| Newcastle | 7.38pm | 7.59pm | 8.19pm |
| Leeds | 7.39pm | 8.01pm | 8.23pm |
| Liverpool | 7.39pm | 8.02pm | 8.24pm |
| Sheffield | 7.39pm | 8.02pm | 8.24pm |
| Swansea | 7.39pm | 8.05pm | 8.30pm |
| Nottingham | 7.39pm | 8.02pm | 8.25pm |
| Norwich | 7.40pm | 8.02pm | 8.24pm |
| Oxford | 7.40pm | 8.04pm | 8.28pm |
| London | 7.40pm | 8.04pm | 8.28pm |
| Bristol | 7.40pm | 8.05pm | 8.29pm |
| Brighton | 7.40pm | 8.05pm | 8.29pm |
| Bournemouth | 7.40pm | 8.06pm | 8.31pm |
| Plymouth | 7.40pm | 8.07pm | 8.33pm |
How can I watch the solar eclipse?
If you’re not in an area in which the total eclipse is viewable, you’ll be able to follow the live stream that takes place between 12 noon and 4pm EDT (in the UK that’s 5pm and 9pm BST). The stream is embedded at the top of this page (sadly no longer available).
NASA’s Facebook page will also offer a 4K, 360 live stream of the solar eclipse from Charleston, South Carolina. This stream will be live between 1.15pm and 4.15pm with totality occurring at 2.45pm ET.
Areas within the path of totality – a circa-70 mile-wide stretch between Salem, Oregon and Charleston, South Carolina, which includes Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia – will be able to view a total solar eclipse.
The path of totality is illustrated below.
What do I need to watch the solar eclipse?
NASA recommends that you will need a pair of Eclipse glasses (not sunglasses) – a selection is available via Amazon (and Amazon UK) – or a pinhole projector. You can make your own using the templates provided at NASA’s site.
The glasses or projector should be used at all times except totality.
What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, completely blocking our view of it.
In the last few seconds before it reaches totality you can see a Diamond Ring, which is just the sun’s outer edge shining through. Following this is Baily’s Beads, whereby only valleys on the moon’s surface allow sunlight to escape.
When totality occurs darkness falls on earth. This may last under a minute – the longest total eclipse will occur is near Carbonade, Illinois, where it will last 2 minutes 40 seconds.
When the moon begins to pass by the sun you will see a crescent shape.
Author: Marie Black, Editorial Director
Marie is Editorial Director at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she's worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our EMEA and LatAm editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry's transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.