Next Friday, the country witnesses the biggest solar eclipse in 15 years.

Scandinavia and the Faroe Islands will be the place to see a total eclipse – but even in Dorset the maximum eclipse will be 86% meaning it should be pretty impressive - as long as the sky is clear.

The last big eclipse in the UK was a bit of a non event in Dorset thanks to cloud cover that blotted out the view of the sun.

Bournemouth Echo:

Click here to read about the eclipse that wasn’t: how clouds ruined Dorset’s view of the 1999 event

Gallery: the eclipse that wasn't: all our pictures from 1999

Bruce Longstaff, honourable secretary of the Wessex Astronomical Society, said: “All of England will witness a partial eclipse of over 80%. In Dorset, maximum obscurity will be 86% at 9.30am, which makes it the most spectacular eclipse since 1999.”

The eclipse starts at 8.30am, when coverage will be 6%. The peak, 86% eclipse, will be at 9.40am, and the sun will be clear again by 10.30am.

“Weather is a big factor in whether or not we’ll see anything special. It certainly won’t be a cracker if there’s cloud cover but it does help that the moon is closer to earth at the moment,” Mr Longstaff said.

There won’t be another eclipse of this magnitude until 2026 and the next total eclipse England will witness will be in 2090.

Weather outlook

The long range forecast suggests it will be cloudy on March 20 but you can get detailed information about expected cloud coverage nearer the time at this link.

 

How to see it:

Good spots for eclipse watching are the beach, Hengistbury Head and Corfe Castle, but anywhere you can see the sun will do!

But: don’t look at the sun directly. (Want to know why not? Click here) If it’s anything like the famous eclipse of 1999, there will be solar glasses attached to every national newspaper next week. If you can’t get some, a sheet of card or paper with a pinhole poked in it can be held - hold the card between the sun and a screen - a large piece of paper works well- a few feet away.The sun should be projected through the pinhole onto the second piece of paper, allowing you to see it.

Do not look at the sun through a camera lens or binoculars – it is safe to photograph but you should get a solar filter to protect your eyes and the lens.