THE first solar eclipse to pass over the UK since 1999 will appear over Cheshire on Friday morning - and here are eclipse facts and figures to help you see it safely.

1. The eclipse will be visible over Cheshire at approximately 9.31am. 

2. Don't be tempted to take a solar selfie! You should never look directly at the sun as this can lead to retinal burns and may cause significant and sometimes permanent loss of sight.


3. Sunglasses are useless and even things like bin liners that look as if they're made of dense material can let through infrared light and burn your retina. A simple way to view the eclipse safely is to use a colander. Hold it so the light shines through the holes onto the ground or a on to a piece of paper. When the eclipse takes place you will see dozens of miniature crescents.

4. The eclipse can also be seen by projecting an image from a telescope or binoculars on to a piece of white card, using a mirror to cast the image on to a wall, or making a pin-hole viewer from pieces of card or a cereal box that acts like a lens.

 


5. Times vary - in London, the eclipse begins at 8.24am, reaches its maximum extent at 9.31am, and ends at 10.41am. For observers in Edinburgh, the eclipse starts at 8.30am and peaks at 9.35am.

How different stages of the eclipse will look:

Northwich Guardian:

6. Around the UK the proportion of the Sun covered by the Moon will increase towards the north, ranging from 84% in London to 89% in Manchester, 93% in Edinburgh, and 97% in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles. 

7. Another "deep" partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12 2026 and the next total eclipse not until September 2090

8. Total solar eclipses can be seen somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, but are considered rare events that recur at any given location just once every 360 to 410 years.

9. A solar eclipse takes place when the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned and the Moon's shadow touches the Earth's surface.

10. On the evening before the eclipse, the Earth and the Moon are at the closest distance they can be to each other, making for the appearance of a ‘Supermoon’ in the sky. This makes the Spring Equinox eclipse a ‘Supermoon’ eclipse, which means the ‘Supermoon’, equinox, and eclipse, will all fall on the same day.

11. The sky is expected to eerily dim during this time, but views of the eclipse are threatened by cloudy weather across the region. For the latest weather forecast, click here 

Myths surrounding solar eclipses

Throughout history, solar eclipses have been viewed with dread and associated with myths and superstitions. Even today, in the 21st century, some cultures consider them a bad omen.

Spookily, birds stop singing, confused by the apparent sudden transition from day to night.

To ancient people who relied so heavily on the life-giving Sun, it must have felt like the end of the world.

This is reflected in a plethora of legends.

In Vietnam, people believed that a giant frog was devouring the Sun, while in ancient China a hungry celestial dragon was thought to be responsible.

According to ancient Hindu mythology, the demon Rahu is beheaded by the supreme deity Vishnu for drinking the nectar of the gods. His head flies across the sky and swallows the Sun.

It was common practice for people to bang pots and pans and make loud noises during an eclipse to scare the demon away.

Korean folklore tells of the Sun being stolen by mythical dogs, while in Europe, the Vikings blamed wolves for consuming the Sun.

The ancient Greeks believed a solar eclipse was a sign that the gods were angry, and that it heralded disasters and destruction.

Among modern superstitions is the belief that solar eclipses can be a danger to pregnant women and unborn children. In some cultures, young children and expectant mothers are asked to stay indoors during an eclipse.

In parts of India, people still fast during a solar eclipse because of the fear that any food cooked during the event will be poisoned.

A few superstitions offer a positive slant on eclipses. In Italy some believe that flowers planted during a solar eclipse will be brighter and more colourful than at any other time.

The Batammaliba people from Benin and Togo in West Africa have a legend that during an eclipse the Sun and Moon are fighting. The only way to stop the conflict, they believe, is for people on Earth to settle their differences.