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Where to watch the solar eclipse alongside experts in Preston next week - and it's free The University of Lancashire is inviting the public to witness UK’s deepest solar eclipse in a decade during a free event at Preston’s Moor Park. Astronomers from the University of Lancashire and Preston and District Astronomical Society will host a free community event at Moor Park on August 12 The free public event to help people experience the UK’s first deep solar eclipse in over a decade. Wherever you are viewing the eclipse, never look directly at the Sun without specialised solar filters, as this can cause permanent eye damage. On Wednesday August 12, the British Isles will experience a deep solar eclipse, where up to 96% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon, in what will be the deepest solar eclipse the British Isles have seen since 2015. To help people experience the rare celestial spectacle, astronomers from the University and the Preston and District Astronomical Society (PADAS) will host a free event for the local community in Moor Park from 5.45pm to 8pm. - • The eclipse begins in Preston at approximately 6.15pm and ends around 8pm. - • Up to 96% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon. - • The event is free and open to the public. - • Viewing the sun should only be undertaken using appropriate solar filters and eclipse-viewing equipment. The partial eclipse will begin in Preston from 6.15pm and finish around 8pm. If the weather is clear, the team will set up solar scopes and projection facilities in the Park across from Deepdale Stadium and provide eclipse glasses for people to safely view the event. If the weather proves to be unsuitable, the team will instead base themselves at the Moor Park Observatory to live stream the eclipse from other clear locations and discuss eclipse science. Professor Victor Debattista from the University of Lancashire’s Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) for Maths and Physics is helping to organise the event. He said: “This is expected to be the best UK solar eclipse in almost 27 years so it’s a pretty special occasion. We want to help people experience it as safely as possible and also share our expertise and equipment so they can full immersive themselves in the moment. Wherever you are viewing the eclipse, never look directly at the Sun without specialised solar filters, as this can cause permanent eye damage.” The event is free and people can turn up on the day. People are asked to meet at Moor Park near to the car park across from Deepdale Stadium (What3Words basket.dating.lift), where limited car parking is available. For poor weather, the revised location will be the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute Observatory (What3Words bumpy.prices.await) and people are advised to follow https://www.instagram.com/unilancashire_engineering/ and https://www.facebook.com/UniLancashire.Engineering/ for updates in the build up to ensure they have the most up-to-date information in case of changes due to the weather forecast.