Photo: Florent Abel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Éclipse solaire partielle · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Belfast

Belfast sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 93.0% of the Sun covered at around 19:08 BST, with the Sun a comfortable ~15° above the horizon.

Éclipse partielle Get certified eclipse glasses

Maximum~19:08 BSTNorthern Ireland · United Kingdom · 12 Aug 2026

Durée~1h 52m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.

Hauteur du Soleil~15° above the WNW horizonhigh enough that cloud, not terrain, is the risk

Couverture93.0% (partial)Belfast is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 93.0% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.

Probabilité de ciel dégagé Cloud is very likely · ≈42%Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.

Compte à rebours jusqu'au maximum

—jours —h —min —sec

Belfast sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 93.0% of the Sun covered at around 19:08 BST, with the Sun a comfortable ~15° above the horizon.

Below: Belfast's exact timings, the best open viewpoints, why your eclipse glasses never come off here, and where the real totality is.

Le déroulé

Quand l'éclipse a lieu

~18:10 BSTDébut de la phase partielle — première morsure dans le Soleil

~19:08 BSTPartielle — ~1h 52m of partial eclipse. Lunettes à retirer seulement en cas de totalité.

~21:02 BSTEclipse ends ~20:02 BST

The eclipse runs from about 18:10 to 20:02 BST, with maximum at around 19:08 and the Sun ~15° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:02 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Où s'installer

Les meilleurs endroits pour observer

Cave Hill

Elevated · dramatic

Best panorama over the city

The basalt hill above Belfast gives a commanding view over the city and lough with an open western outlook.

Divis and the Black Mountain

Elevated · highest

Widest horizon

The highest ground above Belfast, with long views west across Antrim.

Belfast Lough shore at Holywood

Coast · open water

Low open sightline

The lough shore gives an open, flat horizon with room to gather.

Stormont estate

Park · open ground

Space and clear sky

The large open parkland east of the city has unobstructed sightlines.

North to the Antrim coast

Alternative weather

Different cloud draw

The north Antrim coast often sits under different conditions on the same evening — a useful fallback.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

La météo

Le ciel sera-t-il dégagé ?

Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Planifier la journée

Votre checklist pour le jour de l'éclipse

Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
A reasonable view west — the Sun is ~15° up, so gaps in cloud are enough
Arrive before 18:10 to catch first contact

Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Observer en toute sécurité

Quelle que soit votre façon d'observer, faites-le en sécurité

Tous les produits Absolute Eclipse sont certifiés de façon indépendante et fabriqués dans l'UE. Il n'y a aucun moment sûr pour regarder à l'œil nu — gardez des lunettes certifiées en permanence.

Certifié ISO 12312-2
CE · UE 2016/425 EPI
Fabriqué et expédié dans l'UE

FAQ sur l'éclipse en Belfast

Will Belfast see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?

No. Belfast is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 93.0% of the Sun covered at maximum. It is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but the corona does not appear and the sky does not go dark. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.

What time is the eclipse in Belfast?

The partial phase begins at about 18:10 BST and maximum — 93.0% coverage — comes at roughly 19:08 BST. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:02 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Do I need eclipse glasses in Belfast?

Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 93.0% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.

Where should I watch from in Belfast?

With the Sun about 15° above the horizon at maximum, a break in the cloud matters more than a perfect horizon — though higher, open ground still gives the best view.

Will the weather be clear in Belfast on eclipse day?

Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not and conditions change fast. The high Sun means a moderate gap suffices.

Continuez d'explorer le couloir

Régions voisines depuis où observer

● Partielle

Sources : timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (météo) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Les heures sont locales (CEST).

L’éclipse du 12 août 2026 est passée