When will the next solar eclipse happen in the UK?

Did you see the amazing partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August?

For lots of people in the UK, the Moon covered about 88% to 96% of the Sun, depending where you live.

It was one of the deepest solar eclipses seen from the UK since 1999, when parts of Cornwall and Devon saw a total eclipse.

Although a total eclipse happens somewhere in the world roughly every 18 months, to see one in the UK is rare, so how old will you be for the next one?

And, how can astronomers predict them so accurately?

We've tried to answer all your solar eclipse questions! Read on to find out more...

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun.

During Wednesday's eclipse, from the UK, it looked as if the Moon was taking a bigger bite out of the Sun.

There are different kinds of solar eclipse. A partial eclipse is when only part of the Sun is covered.

A total eclipse is when the Moon completely covers the bright face of the Sun for a short time.

The sky darkens, and people in the right place may see the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the corona, glowing around the Moon.

There are between two to five solar eclipses somewhere on Earth every year, but each one can only be seen from certain places.

A total solar eclipse happens about once every year and a half somewhere on Earth.

However, they often happens over oceans or remote areas where not many people can see it.

The next solar eclipse visible from the UK is a partial solar eclipse, happening next year on 2 August 2027.

It will not be as dramatic as the 2026 eclipse, but people in the UK should still be able to see the Moon cover roughly a quarter to just under half of the Sun, depending on where they are, and if the weather is clear.

There will also be partial solar eclipses visible from at least parts of the UK on 26 January 2028, 12 June 2029 and 1 June 2030, although some of these will be much smaller or much harder to spot.

Remember it's important to only view a solar eclipse safely using methods such as special eclipse glasses or a pin hole projector.

You might want to see if your parents are planning a trip to Spain during next year's summer holidays, because there will be a total eclipse for people in parts of southern Spain, North Africa and parts of the Middle East, on 2 August 2027.

This is the same eclipse that will be seen partially in the UK, but it will appear as a total eclipse for these places in Europe.

The UK has a long wait for the next total eclipse... it won't be until 23 September 2090!

This total eclipse will be visible from parts of the UK - depending on the weather.

Before then, there will be a very deep partial eclipse on 3 September 2081.

Nasa lists the total eclipse path through parts of Europe, including France, Switzerland, Austria.

While, the UK could see about 99% coverage in the south-west of England.

Scientists can predict eclipses because the Earth and the Moon move in patterns.

The Moon travels around the Earth, and the Earth travels around the Sun. These paths can be measured very carefully and accurately.

A solar eclipse does not happen every month, even though the Moon goes around Earth about once a month. That is because the Moon's path is slightly tilted.

Most months, the Moon passes a little bit above or below the Sun in our sky.

An eclipse only happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up in just the right way.

Astronomers know where the Moon will be, where Earth will be, and where the Moon's shadow will fall.

That means they can work out the date, time and place of future eclipses.

US space agency Nasa has lists of solar eclipses covering thousands of years.

They also know that eclipses follow repeating patterns. One famous pattern is called the Saros cycle, which lasts about 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours.

It does not mean the same eclipse happens in exactly the same place, but it helps astronomers understand how similar eclipses repeat over time.