Partial photo voltaic eclipe seen within the UK – here is when and the place you possibly can see it

A partial solar eclipse is set to be visible from the UK this morning, with the phenomenon only happening a few times a year – so make sure to catch the event if you can

Wake up and look at the sun! Ok, that’s not the best advice, only look if you have appropriate eyewear.

Why? Becasue weather and suitable eyewear permitting, stargazers in the UK could be able to catch a glimpse of the looking like it’s had a bite taken out of it any moment now. A partial solar eclipse is takng place this morning (Saturday) from between 9.56am and 12.14pm. This astral phenomenon only occurs a handful of times a year, when the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and partly obscures the star.

Excited? Well read on and the Daily Star will reveal when and how you can see it.

For people in the south of England, where the weather means views should be best, the eclipse reaches its “maximum” at around 11.03am.

According to the Royal Observatory, at that point around 30-40% of the sun should be obscured.

Unfortunately for those in Northern Scotland, usually one of the best spots for viewing eclipses, it set to be a cloudy and rainy morning

Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “The northwest of Scotland, which has the best window for seeing the partial solar eclipse, is unfortunately going to see rain and cloudy skies.

“There’s a bit of a split for the weekend weather, with more frequent wind and rain in the north of the country, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

He said “those further south will generally be drier through the day on Saturday”, adding there would be “patchy cloud”.

The weather is set to improve over the weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 17C in the South East and 14C in the North on Sunday. However, this might be slightly too late for a clear view of the sun on Saturday.

Despite part of the sun being obscured, its brightness can still pose a risk to the naked eye. Experts warn that looking directly at it without suitable protection could cause serious and permanent damage.

While a welding mask would suffice, ordinary sunglasses do not offer adequate protection. And let’s face it, how many of us have a welding mask lying around?

For those wanting more than a fleeting glimpse, a pinhole projector or solar eclipse viewing glasses can be used.

Pinhole projectors can be easily made at home by creating a hole in a piece of card, holding it up to the sun, and placing another piece of paper behind the card. This allows you to observe the sun without causing harm to your eyes.

Fortunately, for those unable to witness the event, the Royal Observatory will be live streaming it on their YouTube channel, with coverage starting from 10am this morning.

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