We have the opportunity of photographing a partial solar eclipse (clear skies permitting) on 12th August. The eclipse will start at 6:17pm, reaching its maximum at 7:13pm, ending at 8:06pm. The Moon will obscure roughly 90% of the Sun, so it will be the biggest partial eclispe seen from the UK since 1999.
Make sure you have certified eclipse glasses to view the eclipse and a solar filter on your lens. You can read safety guidelines and find trusted retailers on www.ukeclipse.com.
We need a clear view to the West / North-West, so we will meet at the Olympic Rings Stone Sculpture on Yeates Road (What3Words: ///nips.prune.relations). There is parking on the road, or in New Ground Car Park (What3Words: ///skid.bakers.illogical), 5 minutes walk from the sculpture. We will meet at the sculpture for 5pm. The eclipse starts about 6:10pm, ending at 8:10pm. The maximum eclipse will be at about 7:10pm.
If you wish to stay on later in the evening we will try to photograph the Milky Way (again clear skies permitting). The Galaxy Core will be visible from 10:56pm to 0:47am. We will attempt to photograph this from Portland Bill, so meet near the The Lobster Pot café at 10pm. What3Words for the car park is ///quaking.fresh.realm. The café is to the left of the lighthouse.