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.

LocationEclipse beginsTotality beginsTotality endsEclipse ends
Salem, OR09.05am PDT10.17am PDT10.19am PDT11.37am PDT
Madras, OR9.06am PDT10.19am PDT10.21am PDT11.41am PDT
Idaho Falls, ID10.15am MDT11.33am MDT11.34am MDT12.58am MDT
Casper, WY10.22am MDT11.42am MDT11.45am MDT1.09pm MDT
Lincoln, NE11.37am CDT1.02pm CDT1.03pm CDT2.29pm CDT
Jefferson City, MO11.46am CDT1.13pm CDT1.15pm CDT2.41pm CDT
Carbonale, IL11.52am CDT1.20pm CDT1.22pm CDT2.47pm CDT
Paducah, KY11.54am CDT1.22pm CDT1.24pm CDT2.49pm CDT
Nashville, TN11.58am CDT1.27pm CDT1.29pm CDT2.54pm CDT
Clayton, GA1.06pm EDT2.35pm EDT2.38pm EDT4.01pm EDT
Columbia, SC1.13pm EDT2.41pm EDT2.44pm EDT4.06pm 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.

LocationStart of partial eclipseMaximum eclipseEnd of partial eclipse
Aberdeen7.37pm7.56pm8.14pm
Glasgow7.37pm7.56pm8.19pm
Belfast7.37pm8pm8.23pm
Edinburgh7.38pm7.58pm8.18pm
Newcastle7.38pm7.59pm8.19pm
Leeds7.39pm8.01pm8.23pm
Liverpool7.39pm8.02pm8.24pm
Sheffield7.39pm8.02pm8.24pm
Swansea7.39pm8.05pm8.30pm
Nottingham7.39pm8.02pm8.25pm
Norwich7.40pm8.02pm8.24pm
Oxford7.40pm8.04pm8.28pm
London7.40pm8.04pm8.28pm
Bristol7.40pm8.05pm8.29pm
Brighton7.40pm8.05pm8.29pm
Bournemouth7.40pm8.06pm8.31pm
Plymouth7.40pm8.07pm8.33pm

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.

Total Eclipse path of totality - 1

What do I need to watch the solar eclipse?

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, Global Director of Content Operations, Foundry

Watch the Solar Eclipse live stream - 2

Marie is Global Director of Content Operations at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for 20 years. These days she is focused on refining editorial processes and workflows, and on our evergreen, transactional and custom content strategy.

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