Eclipse mania is building in Cornwall ahead of tonight's celestial event, where the moon and sun will pass each other and cause a momentary dip in the evening light. It won't be a total eclipse in Cornwall, but there should be enough of it to delight anyone who has managed to get hold of a pair of sunglasses.
The last major eclipse of this kind happened on August 11, 1999. It was the last eclipse of the millennium, and the occasion sparked something of a frenzy. Organised gatherings took place across the Duchy, and Westcountry Television, now known as ITV West Country, aired a two-hour live show fronted by Richard Bath. The broadcaster took to the skies in a helicopter and found themselves partly thwarted by cloud cover, though the worst of it had cleared by the time the eclipse appeared in full glory.
The eclipse is set to reach Cornwall just after 7pm, with BBC forecasters predicting it will hit Penzance at 7.16pm. Different parts of the country will see the eclipse at its peak between 7.02pm and 7.16pm, so it is advisable to be ready at 7pm to avoid missing a moment. London and Cardiff will see the peak at 7.13pm, Edinburgh at 7.05pm, Belfast at 7.08pm and Manchester at 7.10pm.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is no rain in the forecast. The Met Office weather forecast for Cornwall suggests the momentary darkness will come with clear skies and searingly warm temperatures. On Wednesday, August 12, daytime temperatures may reach a high of 31 degrees Celsius, though by the time the eclipse arrives around 7pm this should have dropped to 26 degrees. There is less than a five percent chance of rain, and wind speeds will be fairly gentle.
With clear skies promised, the list of possible viewing spots is extensive. The best places are out in the open, something Cornwall has in abundance. Options include Kit Hill in Callington, Bodmin Beacon nature reserve in Bodmin, Bodmin Moor, or any of Cornwall's many beaches such as Pentewan, Polzeath, Summerleaze in Bude or Readymoney Cove, to name four of many. For a dramatic backdrop, Launceston Castle is set to be a popular choice among locals.
For those gathering to watch, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to light fires in the open. The current hot, dry conditions mean a simple fire could go out of control quickly.
Source: www.cornish-times.co.uk — Read the original article
Eclipse in Cornwall 2026: Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s spectacle