Rare partial solar eclipse will be visible over Rochdale on Wednesday

A major partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK on Wednesday 12 August, giving people in Rochdale the chance to witness one of the most striking solar events seen from Britain in years.

The Met Office has highlighted that the extent of the Sun's coverage and the exact time of maximum obscuration will vary across the country, while local cloud cover could make the difference between a clear view and missing the event entirely.

For Rochdale and the wider Greater Manchester area, timings are expected to be similar to Manchester and Liverpool. The Royal Observatory Greenwich says the eclipse should begin at around 6.13pm, reach maximum coverage at around 7.10pm and end shortly after 8pm.

Around 90 per cent of the Sun is expected to be obscured from much of the UK, with coverage increasing further towards the south-west. The Met Office says northeast Scotland will see around 88 per cent coverage shortly before 7pm, while parts of far south-west England could see around 96 per cent just after 7.15pm.

The eclipse will take place with the Sun relatively low in the western sky, so anyone hoping to watch from Rochdale may get the best view from an open location with a clear western horizon.

Weather will be crucial. The Met Office is advising people to check the local forecast in advance because cloud could obscure some or all of the eclipse.

There is also an important safety warning. People should never look directly at the Sun during an eclipse. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough. Safe options include certified eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing or indirect methods such as a pinhole projector.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich says the 12 August event will be the largest partial eclipse visible from the UK and Ireland since 1999, when a total eclipse was visible from parts of Cornwall and Devon.

Those unable to get a clear view locally will also have the option of watching live online, with the Royal Observatory planning a free livestream of the event.

Rochdale Daily will publish an updated local forecast closer to Wednesday so residents can see whether conditions are likely to cooperate.