🌑 HALTON'S SKY IS ABOUT TO GET VERY STRANGE — THE 2026 SOLAR ECLIPSE

Look up this evening and you could witness one of the most spectacular astronomical events seen from Halton in decades.

On Wednesday 12 August, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, creating a dramatic partial solar eclipse across Halton.

It won't quite be a total eclipse here — but with around 93% of the Sun covered, it will be an impressive sight.

☀️ When will we see it in Halton?

For the Runcorn and Widnes area, the eclipse will begin at approximately 6:13pm.

The Moon will gradually move across the face of the Sun, with the eclipse reaching its maximum at around 7:10pm, when approximately 93% of the Sun will be obscured.

The Moon will then slowly move away, with the eclipse ending at approximately 8:04pm.

Times are approximate for the Halton area and can vary slightly depending on your exact location.

So, if you're planning to watch it, 7:10pm is the moment to have your eclipse glasses ready.

Because the eclipse happens in the evening, the Sun will be relatively low in the western sky, so having a clear, unobstructed view towards the horizon will be important.

📍 Where's the best place to see it in Halton?

Our pick would be Runcorn Hill.

The elevated position gives you a better chance of getting a clear view towards the western horizon, which is particularly important because the Sun will be low in the sky during the eclipse.

Other open areas around Halton can work too — including Wigg Island, Spike Island and the wider Mersey waterfront — but wherever you choose, try to find somewhere with as few buildings, trees and other obstructions as possible.

Of course, your view will also depend on the weather and cloud cover on the evening.

👀 PLEASE — DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN

This is the most important part.

Do not look directly at the Sun, even when more than 90% of it is covered.

The remaining sunlight is still bright enough to cause serious and potentially permanent damage to your eyes.

Normal sunglasses are not safe.

If you want to look directly at the eclipse, use proper solar eclipse glasses or a solar viewer that complies with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard.

Never look at the Sun through a camera, binoculars or telescope unless the equipment has a proper solar filter specifically designed for that equipment and correctly fitted.

You can also watch the eclipse indirectly using a simple pinhole projector, which projects an image of the Sun onto a piece of card or paper without requiring you to look directly at the Sun.

The UK Health Security Agency has warned about the risk of eye damage from looking at the Sun during an eclipse, while the College of Optometrists has also issued specific safety advice ahead of this year's event.

🌘 What will it actually feel like?

This is where things could get a little eerie.

As the Moon covers more and more of the Sun, daylight will gradually become noticeably dimmer.

The effect won't be quite like switching the lights off — remember, Halton isn't in the path of totality — but with around 93% of the Sun hidden, the change in light could be surprisingly obvious.

You may notice strange-looking shadows, a slightly cooler feeling in the air and an unusual twilight-like atmosphere.

You may even notice changes in animal behaviour as the sudden reduction in daylight takes effect.

At maximum eclipse, around 7:10pm, the Sun will appear as a bright crescent rather than its usual round disc — but only view it through proper eclipse protection.

📜 Eclipses have fascinated humans for thousands of years

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun and, from our perspective, appears to cover the Sun.

Humans have been recording eclipses for thousands of years. Ancient Babylonian astronomers kept detailed records of celestial events and eventually discovered patterns that allowed them to predict eclipses with surprising accuracy.

And Halton is about to experience an eclipse that is particularly special.

The last comparable eclipse for the Liverpool and Halton area was 11 August 1999. From Liverpool, around 92% of the Sun was covered — remarkably similar to what we'll experience this time.

That 1999 eclipse was even more spectacular further south, because Cornwall experienced totality, turning daytime into darkness.

Tomorrow's eclipse won't be total anywhere in the UK, but it is the most significant partial solar eclipse visible from the UK since the 1999 total eclipse. The Royal Observatory Greenwich describes the 2026 event as the closest to total that the British Isles will see for quite some time.

The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK isn't expected until 2090.

🌑 So, Halton — keep your eyes on the sky

Around 6:13pm: Eclipse begins

Around 7:10pm: Maximum eclipse — around 93% coverage

Around 8:04pm: Eclipse ends

Find an open spot, get your eclipse glasses ready and hope for clear skies.

For a few hours tomorrow evening, the Moon will quite literally get between us and the Sun — and for a short while, Halton could feel like a very different place.

🌑 Wednesday 12 August 2026 — don't miss it.

Please remember: never look directly at the Sun without certified solar viewing protection.