12/08/2026
As the UK prepares for a partial yet almost total eclipse, you might be interested to see how an eclipse in 1748 was predicted/ imagined by our ancestors over London.
I experienced the total eclipse in Cornwall in 1999. Unlike today there was heavy cloud cover, but that added to the experience. What we saw was a wall of darkness moving at speed across the sky until it was totally dark. Because of the clouds, we didn’t get to see the ‘diamond ring’ effect, except that I had with me a tiny mobile TV and, via that, we could see what was going on above the clouds. It was an unforgettable experience.
As I write this it seems strange to know that right now the moon is preparing to move into position in front of the sun. Today we won’t have totality in the UK, but I will sit outside in the garden, experience whatever level of darkness we do get, and try to watch online. Better for the eyes. If you’ll be watching, be safe and enjoy!
Where will you be watching the solar eclipse? 🌘
This 278-year-old engraving from our collection shows diagrams predicting how a solar eclipse would appear over London on 14 July 1748, printed above a view of the city, with St Paul's dome unmistakable on the skyline.
It was published in the Universal Magazine, and you can almost picture readers poring over it: Georgian London's answer to an eclipse-tracking app!
So as you're viewing the eclipse, know that 18th-century Londoners once did the exact same thing - just with pen, paper and a magazine subscription instead of a phone.
📷 The Eclipse of the Sun as it will appear at London on July 14 1748 - from the London Museum collection
