Solar eclipse 12/08/2026

[whole diary]

[stuving]

On the opposite end of that see-saw, the eclipse lands bang in the middle of the evening peak: electricity generation vs consumption data is going to be... absorbing**.

Mark

** Varies by individual and also, various different values of 'Absorbing'.

I very much doubt that there will be any serious consequences for electricity supply.
The eclipse has been known about for a long time, and any shortfall in generating capacity will be met by pumped storage generation, or by quick starting OCGT^▸ (Open Cycle Gas Turbine) plant. Demand is reduced at this time of year if compared to winter.

Looking at the generation curves, solar does have a small bite taken out at its right-hand foot. But it has already dropped well down its cosine hump by then, so it would not matter a lot. With so little wind today there is a big CCGT^▸ (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) intake in the mix and, with cross-channel, a missing 1 GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) or so will barely register.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Posting here from my desk in the west-facing study in our house in Nailsea, I can say that I was very underwhelmed at this eclipse.

I noticed a slight reduction in the exterior daylight, and there were just a few squawking birds flying about - but that was about it, really.

Chris from Nailsea.

[Oxonhutch]

Through an aluminium pinhole on to a white tee-shirt.

[stuving]

Well, that was interesting, I thought. 94% was a bit dimmer than I expected, but in terms of quality it was as much a modified dusk as an eclipse. Rather like the sun setting into a thick bank of cloud. I could see the whole thing trough an upstairs window, using my 1999 eclipse specs, and up to the interesting bit standing at the back door (but only because I'd cut down some bits of shrub and tree).

The light afterwards never did really return to being full sunlight, as it was already being modified by dusk. But it did turn off the porch light, which had come on as it thought it got proper dark.

Rather optimistically, I tried to get a photo with my "ordinary" camera and the very very dark glasses. Earlier in the day it was hopeless, as the camera insisted on focusing on the filter. But around gloomax there wasn't enough light on the filter for that, and the geometry was straighter, so I did in fact get a little image of sorts.

[TaplowGreen]

Just in case anyone missed it......

[johnneyw]

We took a look from the top of the road in an area with 95/96% totality.  The most interesting aspect was the strange quality of the fast fading light but even at only 4-5% of the evening sun, I didn't get dark.  We didn't manage to get any suitable eclipse specs so Sally, my other half, armed herself with a colander from the kitchen and a sheet of white paper which sort of worked. 
Still, enjoyed a conversation with another couple who chose the same vantage point as ourselves and was quite impressed with a the effort made by a considerable gathering of people I spotted on a nearby hilltop....hope it was worth the effort.

[johnneyw]

Just in case anyone missed it......

Special effect graphics worthy of "Eric" on Ask the Family!

[Marlburian]

Just a slight dimming here in Tilehurst. Had  I not been waiting for it, I probably wouldn't have noticed a thing.

[eightonedee]

For anyone planning ahead for 2081, I can report that the colander approach was only partly successful. I was eventually able to work out that I needed a greater distance from it to the piece of paper I used as a screen in time for the peak eclipse, and the diffusion of light around the edge of the moon diminished the effect of the claimed 90%+ eclipse by increasing the extent of apparent uncovered sun.

Here in the Goring Gap there was a considerable reduction in light levels, and a very welcome dip in the temperature.

[JayMac]

At least I didn't miss this one. I was poorly and slept through 1999's total eclipse.

No eyewear to look directly at this one. I did the colander trick to show Mum, then headed out with Finn. It was like a very quick dusk coming down. We had some cirrocumulus here in Taunton that crossed the path of the sun during the eclipse.

Best I could do with my phone...

[Image from here is not available to guests]
[Image from here is not available to guests]

[GBM]

Posting here from my desk in the South-facing study in our house in Nailsea, I can say that I was very underwhelmed at this eclipse.

I noticed a slight reduction in the exterior daylight, and there were just a few squawking birds flying about - but that was about it, really.

Chris from Nailsea.

Yes, underwhelming here as well.
A bit less sun, cooler.  Then dusk!
Agree with Marlburian as well.

[Bob_Blakey]

An eclipse of some sort would now have a 'tick' against it on my bucket list if I actually had one. Agreed that it didn't score particularly highly on the spectacular scale. The expected Sound Of Silence was completely ruined by Gulls & Magpies, which creatures frequently invade our peace and quiet around here.

We were on the lower slopes of Mount Teide in Tenerife for the 1999 eclipse but had no idea it was happening. Didn't matter because most of the island was shrouded in thick cloud.

[bobm]

With its view of the western horizon, I chose Weston-super-Mare to view the event.

Although it did get noticeably busier as we neared the time of the maximum eclipse it was by no means crowded and plenty of seats available.  I opted not to take a tripod with me so the shots were all handheld, although there were others there who were clearly making a production number out of it.

[Image from here is not available to guests][Image from here is not available to guests]
[Image from here is not available to guests][Image from here is not available to guests]
[Image from here is not available to guests]

I did hear some reports of people's views elsewhere being obscured by cloud.   At Weston there were just a few towards the end.

[Image from here is not available to guests]

[Mark A]

An eclipse of some sort would now have a 'tick' against it on my bucket list if I actually had one. Agreed that it didn't score particularly highly on the spectacular scale. The expected Sound Of Silence was completely ruined by Gulls & Magpies, which creatures frequently invade our peace and quiet around here.

We were on the lower slopes of Mount Teide in Tenerife for the 1999 eclipse but had no idea it was happening. Didn't matter because most of the island was shrouded in thick cloud.

That reminds me of Plymouth - the total eclipse arrived and the various seabirds that had been flying around blithely taking no notice of the evidence in front of their own eyes that something was about to happen. Complete panic and a series of rather hairy dives as they ran for cover and safety.

Mark

[Mark A]

Liking those. Your phone seems very good at either not producing, or its suppressing, lens flare which in the case of a direct photo of the sun, the flare can actually be good at recording the sun's disk itself.

Mark