On Wednesday evening, 12 August, a major partial solar eclipse will sweep across the UK as part of a total eclipse passing through Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain.

Worthing will not experience total darkness, but it will come impressively close.

Locally, the eclipse is due to begin at around 6:18pm, reach its maximum at approximately 7:14pm, and finish at around 8:07pm. The local eclipse magnitude at maximum is calculated at 0.930, with roughly nine-tenths of the Sun disappearing behind the Moon.

And this time, Worthing may be rather lucky.

The Met Office says southern England is among the areas expected to have the best viewing conditions, with largely clear skies through the evening. The current Worthing forecast is for sunshine around the time of the eclipse, with temperatures still around 26–27°C at 7pm.

For a country rather famous for clouds appearing at exactly the wrong moment, that's about as good as we could ask for.

So where is the best place in Worthing to watch it?

There is one fairly obvious winner: Goring Gap.

The huge open space gives an unusually clear view towards the western sky — important because this is a late-evening eclipse, with the Sun already sitting low towards the horizon.

Better still, Worthing Astronomers are holding a free public eclipse viewing event at Goring Gap from 6pm until 8:30pm. Experienced astronomers are expected to have specialist solar equipment available, and certified eclipse glasses will also be available for visitors. No advance booking is required.

For families or anyone who has never watched an eclipse properly before, this is probably the best option in town.

Highdown Hill should also offer an excellent view. Its height and broad outlook make it a strong choice if you want something slightly quieter, although anyone heading up should arrive early enough to get into position safely before the eclipse begins.

Cissbury Ring is another spectacular possibility. From the top, the open landscape provides an enormous sky, and the strange evening light of a deep eclipse over the Sussex countryside could make this one of the more memorable places to experience it.

Closer to the centre of town, Worthing Pier and the western sections of the promenade should still provide a good view. The important thing isn't necessarily being beside the sea — it is finding somewhere without buildings, trees or other obstructions blocking the low western sky.

By the final stages of the eclipse the Sun will be extremely low, with sunset in Worthing following at around 8:19pm.

One thing we wouldn't recommend: watching it while swimming

There is nothing mysterious about an eclipse that suddenly makes the sea dangerous, and the Moon isn't going to create a giant wave when the Sun disappears.

But there are some very practical reasons why this particular evening is a poor time to be out swimming while trying to watch the eclipse.

Low tide in Worthing is predicted for approximately 5:46pm at 0.8 metres. From there, the tide will be coming back in throughout the entire eclipse, heading towards a high tide of around 6.2 metres shortly after midnight.

The eclipse also happens at New Moon, when the gravitational effects of the Sun and Moon combine to produce the larger tidal ranges associated with spring tides. That does not mean an eclipse itself suddenly creates dangerous tides, but it does mean today's sea level is changing considerably between low and high water.

More importantly, visibility will noticeably reduce as the Moon covers the Sun, the evening itself will be approaching sunset, and thousands of eyes along the coast are likely to be pointing upwards rather than towards the water.

Worthing Borough Council also states that there are no lifeguards on duty on Worthing's beaches at any time. Its Coastal Office operates during the summer, but its published opening hours finish at 6pm — just before tonight's eclipse begins.

So if you fancy a swim today, have one earlier.

For the eclipse itself, we'd stay on dry land, enjoy the spectacle properly and keep the sea in front of you rather than underneath you.

The most important warning: don't look directly at it

Even with almost all of the Sun hidden, the remaining sunlight is powerful enough to permanently damage your eyes.

Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient.

The UK Health Security Agency advises using proper eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers meeting the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) safety standard. If you don't have them, indirect methods such as a pinhole projector — or even watching the crescent-shaped shadows created through the holes of a colander — are safer alternatives.

Clouds don't make it safe to stare at the Sun either.

And don't rush home afterwards…

There is another little astronomical bonus waiting tonight.

The eclipse falls on the same night as the Perseid meteor shower, one of the best-known meteor showers of the year, and the Moon is effectively new — meaning very little moonlight to wash out the night sky.

So for those willing to stay out after sunset, Worthing could go from a spectacular eclipse in the evening to shooting stars later in the night.

For once, looking up might genuinely be the best entertainment in town.

The Worthing eclipse at a glance: it begins at approximately 6:18pm, reaches maximum at 7:14pm and ends at 8:07pm. Goring Gap is our pick for the best combination of view, accessibility and expert help — but wherever you watch it, protect your eyes and keep your feet on dry land.