Partial Solar Eclipse

On the evening of Wednesday 12 August 2026, Bath Astronomers gathered at Beckford’s Tower on Lansdown to observe and photograph a partial solar eclipse, visible from around 6–8pm.

The images below were captured using a Dwarf 3 smart telescope, taking 20 photographs every 5 minutes as the Moon crossed the face of the Sun. Each frame was then stacked and processed — using iMovie and Photoshop — to bring out surface detail and sunspot activity while keeping the crescent’s edge crisp.

The sequence
A 5×5 grid tracks the eclipse from first contact through to maximum coverage and back toward the Sun’s full disc, sunspots visible throughout as a quiet reminder of scale.

Full disc detail
Four close-up frames of the Sun at different points in the sequence, showing the stacked detail brought out in processing — subtle granulation and sunspot groups across the surface.

The eclipse, full circle
The same sequence arranged as a clock face, tracing the Moon’s path across the Sun from first bite to last.

With thanks to Bath Astronomers for organising the session.