Partial solar eclipse for the UK ~ Friday 20th March, 2015

[GloriaSmud]

The UK won’t get totality but depending on where you are, 80-90% of the sun should be covered. More info here.
Let’s hope for clear skies!

Oh I really want to watch the eclipse but then The Day of the Triffids pops into my head . . .

Welders glass (14 and above) is absolutely fine as you found out last time

And that, notmyusername, is why Cornwall is now run by 10 foot Venus fly traps.....

stubbornstains.

So a week to go and there are some early thoughts on the weather for the 20th (sounds more or less what OYBBK said earlier today.)

Can anyone advise me on the glasses issue please...
I am a newbie to eclipses, I missed the 1999 one due to being abroad.
This time I have a 5 month old baby and was rather hoping to sit in the garden with him and watch it together - but I had no idea you needed glasses to watch it!
Can you get special baby glasses or do you reckon I could fashion baby ones with Sellotape and a hat?!
Or is it a stupid idea and I should just stay indoors instead. Don't want to put him in any danger :( googled it and can't find any info.

Your baby won't be in any danger unless you force him to look at the sun. If it's sunny then the usual pop a hat on him is sensible. Nothing dangerous happens with the suns light, it's just that there's less of it and the lighting goes a funny twilightly colour.

GFS paints a happier picture today of a small high pressure sat over the UK, a sunnier prospect than shown yesterday.

Oh good, thank you, sorry for the stupid question! Just wanted to check beforehand, I've never seen an eclipse so don't know what to expect!

it wasn't a stupid question :) its better to ask these things than worry about them.

We've had a newsletter from DD3's primary school about the eclipse next week. Children who want to watch it can stay at home and go into school later. Those who are in school or are on a residential, won't be able to watch. Unfortunately for DD3, she is one of those on the residential! It'll be interesting what (if anything) DD1 and DD2's schools do.

In other news, DH is currently out on a 'Sky at Night magazine/free eclipse glasses' hunt!

OK, so my welding glass arrived today (mega fast!). It has no instructions on it about its suitability for an eclipse (hardly surprising!), but if you try to look at most things through it it's just black, and I experimented with looking at the sun through it and haven't gone blind.....I think it means that's OK .

DS's teacher informed me that they have some eclipse-related activities planned, but looked a bit panicky when I asked her about glasses...oops . Maybe they're going to construct a pinhole viewing thing?

Sounds like you're all set, stubbornstains.
DH's managed to get the last Sky at Night magazine in Sainsburys. He was at the price (£5) and it said it better not be cloudy next Friday otherwise he'll want a refund!

Today's GFS shows high pressure do I at it most of the UK, but the SE could see cloud.

'Yay, 'tis all not looking too bad at the moment ~ hopefully the weather will play ball and we'll get a good show!

Hmmm, clearly yesterday's post went a bit wrong. Was supposed to say 'dominates'.

High pressure is still seen to be very much influential. Yay! But pinning down the clear skies is a little challenging. Bit worried about the NE in the latest run.

Latest model run is a bit of nail biter, shows the high pressure just a little off to one side and I'm concerned that there may be a lot of cloud infill.

I marched out of work in 1999 (radiographer) because I'd changed jobs so my day off was no longer booked and the senior in my department wouldn't let me have break then. I watched it through many layers of fogged film and I've never been more disappointed that we have gone digital nowadays, had to buy a pair of glasses this time round. I will be marching out of work again but this time I'm the most senior in the dept so not such an issue .

Watching the forecast with interest but it is looking cloudy here for now (in West Wales ).

MrSlant.
I keep looking at all sorts of weather models and forecast websites for Friday morning. At the moment the metoffice are saying that for Leicester, any cloud should break up quite early, just in time for the eclipse. I hope they're right.

It's funny how these things mark time MrSlant :)

An improving picture for Friday morning. Looks like the SW may well have a nice clear slot, but perhaps other places too. Ironically the NW looks least great at present.

Yay, 'tis looking better
Little reminder that Stargazing Live starts tomorrow and there's an 'Eclipse Special' on Friday, BBC1 at 9am.

Gloria have you seen this?

I love stargazing live, it doesn't talk down to you just tells you brilliant stuff. All TV should be like that. My children sit quietly and absorb every word.

I'm going outside to try my new eclipse glasses now.

How do I find out what time it will happen in Scotland, please?

Woollybacks Oooo ~ I didn't know there was an event was being held there!

I Have To ~ the times for Edinburgh are here.

Can anyone let me know what welding masks are ok to use? I've looked on machine mart website and there are glasses and masks! But loads of different ones. TIA

They need to have a glass rated 14 or more.

So, varying amounts of cloud forecast, with the thickest amounts currently modelled over the SE and northern Scotland. Going to be touch and go for many as to whether they saw it.