A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s light. A lunar eclipse will follow in the coming weeks (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)The eclipse will start at 3.33am, reaching its peak at 5.12am. How to safely watch the solar eclipseTo watch the solar eclipse, you can use certified solar eclipse glasses, through a solar telescope, or by watching an official live stream. You can buy certified solar eclipse glasses in the UK from reputable astronomy retailers, specialised online distributors, or general online marketplaces such as Amazon UK. How will you be watching the solar eclipse this week?