Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Solar eclipse this evening.

121 replies

FFSItsTooHot · 12/08/2026 17:12

Who's going to be watching the solar eclipse this evening? I hope it's better than the last one back in 1999. That was a total non- event!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
KnickerlessParsons · 12/08/2026 17:17

What?!!! No it wasn’t. We all went out to the car park in work to watch it.

FFSItsTooHot · 12/08/2026 17:28

KnickerlessParsons · 12/08/2026 17:17

What?!!! No it wasn’t. We all went out to the car park in work to watch it.

I suppose it depended what part of the UK you were in! I was in North London, and it was barely visible. Where abouts were you?

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 12/08/2026 17:28

North Wiltshire

Zoopet · 12/08/2026 17:30

Watching on the tele.
Just had both cataracts done so I'm too nervous to look in real life!

TheignT · 12/08/2026 17:59

South Devon. Definitely not a non event.

wordledrivingmemad · 12/08/2026 18:01

The last good one was 2015, again not a full eclipse.

Tumbleweed101 · 12/08/2026 18:02

1999 one was amazing - we were in Devon to see it and although it was cloudy it was the kind of cloud you can see the disc of the sun through.

I'm in a 90% area this time so not expecting the same effect as I got then but I will be watching - also got my solar glasses a few weeks ago so we are prepared! We will need them this time otherwise the sun will glare out the moon as it creeps across.

fashionqueen0123 · 12/08/2026 18:02

I remember in 1999 going to a park with my mates and then it barely seemed to do anything? Hoping it’s more obvious this time

Didion · 12/08/2026 18:03

I was in Central London (Belgravia) and it certainly not a non-event! We stood on the office roof and watched it.

BlueWallsareCool · 12/08/2026 18:22

I am in the garden, cardboard and colander in place. Enjoying Tom Swarbrick and an astronomer doing a very entertaining commentary
.

BlueWallsareCool · 12/08/2026 18:23

Did the same thing with the dc in 1999. Without the commentary.

banivani · 12/08/2026 18:35

Am in Sweden and in my town there is great excitement. I’m up on the hill in town with a load of other people waiting for Darkness ;). Also two ambulances are on standby? V serious business. I have no protection so am people watching and trying to look through my phone on selfie modeBlush

ghostyslovesheets · 12/08/2026 18:37

Sat in the hill by my house - lovely community atmosphere and kids running around

Solar eclipse this evening.
Sometimesitsmyownfault · 12/08/2026 18:40

I was on the Nurembergring race course, we all pulled over to watch it. It was the silence that was unforgettable.

Halsall · 12/08/2026 18:41

I'm watching through my home-made pinhole camera (a cornflake box), which works brilliantly. A significant chunk of the sun has been obscured now.

banivani · 12/08/2026 18:48

A massive wall of clouds has spoiled our fun 😂

Choux · 12/08/2026 18:50

My colander does not appear to be working. I still see full circles on the paper.

Stickywillow · 12/08/2026 18:50

I was watching (Scotland) but a big black cloud has just covered the sun. Been sunny most of the day too 🙄 Maximum coverage due in 15 minutes so not too hopeful as the wind we had earlier has also disappeared.

PartialEclipseOfTheHeart · 12/08/2026 18:51

No sign of it with our home-made pinhole camera yet.

Plump82 · 12/08/2026 18:52

Absolutely no sky to be seen here in Scotland where I am so I think it's going to be a bit disappointing! Don't think I'll be needing those eclipse glasses!!

BabblingBiddy · 12/08/2026 18:52

banivani · 12/08/2026 18:35

Am in Sweden and in my town there is great excitement. I’m up on the hill in town with a load of other people waiting for Darkness ;). Also two ambulances are on standby? V serious business. I have no protection so am people watching and trying to look through my phone on selfie modeBlush

Edited

I was told not to do it through the camera on my phone as it can fry the lens apparently. No idea if thats true, but I'm not risking it!

EasternStandard · 12/08/2026 18:53

Choux · 12/08/2026 18:50

My colander does not appear to be working. I still see full circles on the paper.

We just tried this and can see crescent shapes.

Choux · 12/08/2026 18:54

Choux · 12/08/2026 18:50

My colander does not appear to be working. I still see full circles on the paper.

Having seen a photo on another thread I realise I was holding the paper too close to the colander. Having moved it away I can now see crescents.

Stickywillow · 12/08/2026 19:01

The clouds have gone! Can just see a crescent sun now. Not as dark as I thought it'd be!

notimagain · 12/08/2026 19:03

Image (when approved) About 5 min ago, not UK and a bit of a gash set up.

Solar eclipse this evening.
Swipe left for the next trending thread