Stunning moment solar eclipse peaks in UK as moon covers nearly all the sun leaving Brits in awe at cosmic show

THIS is the stunning moment the solar eclipse peaked in the UK with the moon covering nearly all of the sun. Millions of Brits across the country were left in awe as they caught a glimpse of the best solar eclipse in almost three decades. A cloudy view from Birmingham during the European Athletics Championships The Moon passes in between the Earth and the Sun during the solar eclipse as seen from King’s Stairs Gardens in Bermondsey, south London Credit: PA Up to 95 per cent of the Sun was obscured by the moon for certain parts of the country as the eclipse peaked. And footage showed the moment the unique moment occurred for lucky viewers who turned their eyes skywards tonight. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Many had gathered at viewpoints, including beaches and parks, across the nation as the incredible celestial event got underway. Brits could not hold back their excitement as they watched the rare phenomenon unfold before their eyes. The peak of the solar eclipse in the UK, seen from Southend pier Credit: Alamy Live News. The eclipse captured by the Houses of Parliament in London Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Crowds cheered as a once-in-a-generation eclipse reached its peak in the UK. Viewers were seen holding their phones aloft as temperatures dropped slightly with darkness falling across the country. The UK reached the totality of the eclipse at 7.10pm. News organisations were able to use specialist cameras to film it and keep the momentous occasion on record. Most read in The Sun Between 90 and 96 per cent of the sun was covered as the sky darkened across Britain. This scale of eclipse coverage will not be reached in the UK again until 2081. It comes after some Brits even took holidays to Spain and Greenland in order to see the total solar eclipse – the first of it’s kind since 1999. Glastonbury, Somerset saw spectacular views Credit: Alamy The incredible celestial event seen from Sheerness, Kent Parts of Spain have now experienced a total solar eclipse for the first time since 1905. Meanwhile, football fans in Austria are watching the Solar eclipse with special glasses ahead of the UEFA Super Cup 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. In Iceland, the Sun was completely covered by the moon – known as totality. Brits had scrambled to get their hands on protective solar glasses as looking directly at the eclipse risks serious eye damage. People gather to view the partial solar eclipse in Greenwich Park Credit: Getty Images Brits had gathered with protective glasses Credit: LNP Many used who couldn’t get their hands on protective glasses used colanders to watch the shadows of the eclipse. Huge queues were seen outside the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, South East London, as desperate viewers tried to get a pair. Another stunning spectacle is set to take over skies soon after the magic of the total eclipse. Between midnight and 5.30am on Thursday morning, Brits can enjoy “one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky”. A dramatic meteor shower will peak overnight tonight, shortly after the UK experiences its deepest eclipse since 1999. The Perseid meteor shower occurs annually between July and August, however, tonight’s display is set to be one of the most impressive yet as it coincides with a new moon, meaning the sky will be darker than usual. Described by Royal Museums Greenwich as “one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky”, the meteor shower has been active since July 17 and will continue until August 24. The number of meteors increases every night throughout this time-frame, peaking during the early hours of Thursday, August 13. Comment now