One spot in Scotland is expected to provide the best views.
A partial solar eclipse is set to take place on Wednesday, August 12.(Image: Matt Anderson/Getty Images)
A spectacular solar event is set to take place this month which Scots won’t want to miss. On Wednesday, August 12, a solar eclipse will take over the skies and one beauty spot in Scotland is expected to provide the best views in the UK.
The eclipse will travel over Europe, with countries such as Greenland, Iceland, and Spain experiencing the full extent of the phenomenon. While the astronomical event will take place hundreds of miles away from the UK, we will still be able to experience a partial solar eclipse.
For those wanting to safely view the solar eclipse, which hasn’t occurred in Scotland since March 15, 2015, it is important to find the best viewing spot. Thankfully, experts from car rental SIXT have analysed where the best places will be to experience the partial solar eclipse.
By analysing data such as the percentage of cloud cover in August, elevation above sea level, and the percentage of solar obstruction, the experts have determined that one area in Scotland will provide the best views in the UK.
However, it should be noted that this will only be possible if observers have access to an open and clear view of the western horizon. From the research, it was found that Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries and Galloway will be the best place to safely watch the solar eclipse.
Being the only Scottish location on the best viewing list, the experts say that Galloway Forest Park “allows ample unobstructed western views”. With the eclipse expected to peak at 7:07pm on August 12, this will give viewers plenty of time to hike to the beauty spot and fully take in the event.
The park was found to have one of the lowest cover percentages in August on average (49%) and boasts the highest elevation in the top 10 at 843m above sea level, which increases the chances of a clear view.
The data also states that the park will witness a solar obstruction of 91.7 per cent, which will create one of the deepest blackouts in Scotland.
Galloway Forest Park is reportedly the largest forest park in Britain, with over 300 square miles of natural beauty. Consisting of 16 forests, this park can be enjoyed by bike, foot, or in a car. Also boasting a stunning loch, the park is home to red deer and wild goats.
According to the data, the next best location to see the solar eclipse in the UK would be Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire. This was closely followed by Exmoor National Park in Devon and Somerset.
While England and Wales will likely see greater eclipses than Scots due to its location, there are two cities that are expected to see blackouts of over 90 per cent.
The first is Glasgow, which is predicted to have an eclipse of 91.4 per cent according to BBC’s Star at Night Magazine. With the moon travelling across the sun from approximately 6pm to 8pm on August 12, the maximum coverage will occur at 7:06pm.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh is set to have a partial eclipse of 90.7 per cent at 7:05pm. The coverage is expected to decrease slightly across the north east of Scotland. But many Scots may still be able to see a reduced eclipse on Wednesday evening.
For those wanting to view the solar eclipse, it is crucial that you not gaze directly at it. This is because the sunlight can still cause damage to your retinas even if it appears dimmed by the moon.
Instead, observers are advised to either buy specialist eclipse viewers or use indirect viewing methods – such as a pinhole viewer or viewing the sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves.