Worthing solar eclipse viewing times locations and safety advice

Worthing is set to see its most significant solar eclipse for almost 27 years this evening, Wednesday 12 August, with the partial eclipse beginning at about 18:18, reaching its maximum at 19:14 and ending at around 20:07.

More than 90 per cent of the Sun will be obscured at maximum, although Worthing lies outside the path of totality.

Worthing Astronomers is holding a free public event at Goring Gap from 18:00 until 20:30, with 400 pairs of solar viewing glasses being distributed on a first come, first served basis and limited to one pair per family group.

Marine Gardens Restaurant in West Parade is also inviting people to watch from Marine Gardens and expects to distribute a limited supply of free eclipse glasses from 17:45, subject to its delivery arriving as planned.

Because the eclipse takes place late in the day, viewers need a clear outlook towards the west and west-north-west, with the Sun already low in the sky by the time of maximum eclipse. Goring Gap and the wider Goring seafront provide relatively open and accessible viewing areas, while elevated locations including Highdown Hill and West Hill may offer clearer views towards the low western horizon. Honeysuckle Lane and High Salvington may also be suitable, although nearby trees could obstruct the later stages as the Sun sinks.

Viewers must never look directly at the Sun without proper protection, even when most of it is covered. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe; eclipse glasses or handheld viewers should meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard and must not be used if scratched or damaged. Binoculars and telescopes should never be pointed at the Sun without correctly fitted specialist solar filters, while indirect methods such as a pinhole projector provide a safe alternative.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun and blocks some or all of the Sun’s light, with the amount covered depending on the observer’s position. The 2026 eclipse is total in parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain but only partial from Worthing and the rest of the UK. It provides the greatest solar eclipse coverage seen from Britain since 11 August 1999, when the path of totality crossed Cornwall and parts of Devon, although smaller partial eclipses have been visible in Britain since then, including one in March 2025.

The next solar eclipse visible from Worthing will be another partial eclipse on 2 August 2027, while the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is not until 23 September 2090.