A solar eclipse and meteor shower over Guernsey tonight

Wednesday, 12 August 2026 09:40

Guernsey's west coast will experience 94.5% totality as the moon obscures the sun.

12 August 2026 will be a date to remember, as islanders witness two astronomical events.

The sun will be 94.5% covered when the moon passes in front, in "the best solar eclipse event in the Channel Islands since 1999."

Timeline for the Bailiwick:

18:20 - The eclipse begins with a tiny "bite" out of the lower right part of the Sun

18:50 - The crescent begins to form. The temperature will fall by a couple of degrees. Birds may fall silent.

19:17 - Maximum eclipse, up to 94.5% of the Sun obscured. The sky will have dimmed dramatically to a deep dusk, even though the Sun is still above the horizon.

20:10 - The Sun will become "whole" again.

After sunset, the sky will come alive again; this time, the Perseid meteor shower.

Until the early hours of 13 August, 60–100 meteors per hour will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, leaving bright streaks of light across the sky.

Safety

Looking directly at the sun during the solar eclipse can cause serious damage to your eyes or even blind you..

The retina lacks pain receptors, which means you likely won’t feel any damage happening in the moment, and damage can occur without awareness or pain.

People should wear special Solar Eclipse glasses but it is understood these are unavailable online or on island.

But, you can watch the shadow of the eclipse, which is a small crescent of the sun peeking out from behind the moon, by casting the image on a blank surface, either:

By holding a colander over a surface, the crescent will be cast through each hole.
By making a small hole in a piece of card using a pin, and casting the shadow through this.