Viewing events are set to take place across Scotland as stargazers gather to witness a rare partial solar eclipse – but forecasters have warned the event is likely to be hidden behind clouds in many areas.
More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between about 6pm and 8.15pm on August 12, the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
It is expected to be the fullest eclipse over local skies until 2081.
The eclipse will begin shortly after 6pm, and the “peak” extent of the sun’s coverage will happen at slightly different times in different areas of the country.
The Met Office said it will peak in Inverness at 7.03pm, when 90.74% of the sun will be obscured, while in Edinburgh the peak will come at 7.06pm, when 90.71% of the sun will be covered.
Some western areas of the country will see more than 92% coverage.
However in a blow to stargazers, forecasters have warned the rare event is likely to be hidden behind clouds for many – but that it may be visible in some areas.
The Met Office said eastern areas such as Aberdeenshire, Angus and Moray are most likely to have clear skies when the rare event takes place.
The forecaster said there may also be breaks in cloud cover in the central belt and southern Scotland.
However, a weather front means north-western areas of the country are likely to remain cloudy throughout the evening.
The Royal Astronomical Society will host visitors at the observatory on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, where stargazers will be given free eclipse glasses and be able to look through a solar telescope.
Other events in the south of the country include at the Red Burn Farm in Glasgow and the Dark Space Planetarium in Kirkcudbright.
Viewing events further north include the Tomintoul Skyhide Stargazing Pavilion in Ballindalloch and Mosstowie Primary School in Elgin.
There are also events planned on some of Scotland’s islands, including at Midhowe Broch Car Park, Rousay, Orkney, and at Ardminish on the Isle of Gigha.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “A weather front will likely keep north-western areas of the country cloudy throughout the evening.
“Meanwhile, those towards the east, such as in Aberdeenshire, Angus and Moray, should have better viewing chances with the likelihood of more cloud breaks.
“The cloud forecast across the central belt and southern Scotland is expected to be less thick than that in the north-west.
“Therefore, there is still some possibility that it manages to break at points during the evening.”
Experts have reminded people not to look directly at the sun, with even brief exposure causing lasting vision damage.
Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching the eclipse.
Around 40% had looked at it for less than a minute.
Experts said only special solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified for the safest eye protection should be used to view it directly.
A list of viewing events can be found at https://ukeclipse.com/