Astronomy groups and venues across the South West of England and the Channel Islands are hosting events to help the public safely watch a partial solar eclipse. Organisers stress that people should never look directly at the sun, and are offering solar-filtered telescopes, eclipse glasses and expert guidance to reduce the risk of eye damage while allowing residents and visitors to enjoy what one organiser called a rare, near-total partial eclipse.

In Devon and Cornwall the eclipse begins around 18:18 BST, peaks at 19:15 and ends about 20:10, with Guernsey and Jersey seeing near-identical timings. Free events include a lawn gathering on St Martin's in the Isles of Scilly and a viewing at Bedruthan Steps in Cornwall, where 420 eclipse glasses will be handed out, while paid ticketed events are running at venues such as the Smugglers Rest in Talland Bay, the Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth and the Poltimore Inn near Exmoor, which has its own observatory. Several locations will also mark the Perseids meteor shower later in the evening once darkness falls.