Best places to view the 2017 solar eclipse

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will witness a total eclipse of the sun for the first time in 99 years, where the Moon will pass in front of the Sun casting darkness across swathes of the Earth's surface.

Dubbed the Great American Eclipse, the moment will see the Sun, the Moon and the Earth become perfectly aligned in a once-in-a-lifetime celestial spectacle seen from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

While we won't see a perfect alignment in the UK, we will be able to see a partial eclipse (where the moon covers only a part of the sun).

As it's closest to the US, the west of the UK will see the most spectacular alignment, so the Welsh and Scottish coastline and Northern Ireland are the places to go if you're planning a weekend away.

Where to see the eclipse in the US

The best place to see the eclipse is ultimately the United States - in particular, in one of the fourteen states named 'the path of totality'.

These states will experience a total solar eclipse with more than two minutes of darkness, as the eclipse travels across the continent in the middle of the day over the course of 100 minutes. 

The path of totality is relatively thin, around 70 miles wide, and stretches from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina.

However more than 12 million Americans live inside the path and more than half of the nation live within 400 miles of it. Millions more are expected to travel to cities along the path to witness the phenomenon. 

Over approximately 90 minutes it will cross from Oregon to South Carolina, with the lunar shadow will leaving the US at 04:09 EDT.

Lincoln Beach, Oregon

The starting grid for it all: the eclipse will first be seen at Lincoln Beach, Oregon at 9:05 PDT, with totality beginning at 10:16 PDT.

This small coastal community, where Oregon meets the world's biggest ocean, will be the point where the eclipse "makes land". It sits about two thirds of the way up the state's western edge, a simple drive from the biggest city, Portland.

Casper, Wyoming

Wyoming's second biggest city is a place of cowboy lore and sturdy stirrups. Which means that, if this is your bag, you can take in the holler and hurrah of the rodeo while in town - the Sankey Eclipse Rough Stock Rodeo is planned for August 20.

St Louis, Missouri

One of the major cities of the Midwest, St Louis comes imbued with a geographic grandeur thanks to its position on the west bank of the River Mississippi. The presence of the 630ft (192m) Gateway Arch adds to the idea of a city of substance.

Nashville, Tennessee

Probably the most famous dot on the solar eclipe's route map, Tennessee's capital is the centreground of country music, and underlines this at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton are suitably serenaded.

Where to see the eclipse in the UK

Sadly, Brits won't get a total eclipse like our friends across the pond, but we will be treated to a slight partial eclipse which will still be worth watching. 

It will be visible in parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from around 19:35 on August 21 - but make sure you're in a spot where there's no cloud. 

Here's where to go in the UK to get the best views.

Northern Ireland

The eclipse will be visible in Derry, Newtonabbey and Lisburn from 19:37, lasting just over 45 minutes until 20:23 in all three cities. If you want to see as much of the eclipse as possible but can't afford to splurge on a last-minute trip the US, these areas are your best bet.

Wales

The eclipse will last from 19:39 to 20:22 in Swansea, making it the Welsh city most likely to see the moon cover the sun. If you're tied to Great Britain, the Welsh coast - jutting out into the Irish sea - is a good place to visit.

England

Lasting from 19:39 to 20:22, Liverpool is the best city in England to see the partial eclipse. Anywhere on the west coast will have the most spectacular views (as well as more northern regions), while people in the capital will only be able to see it between 19:40 and 20:06.

Scotland

The western coast in the Highlands will see the best views in Scotland, with the advantage of being both northern and close to the Atlantic Ocean.

Those in Glasgow can expect to see the eclipse between 19:37 and 20:19, however people on the east coast will have a shorter window finishing five minutes earlier.

Where to watch the eclipse on the TV

While in years gone by we had to stay glued to the news on TV to see eclipses from around the world, nowadays we can catch them live on our phones as well.

The Telegraph will live stream the event, so make sure to bookmark our eclipse page. Plus, NASA will be broadcasting a four-hour live stream on NASA TV, starting at 18:00 BST; this be picked up by local, national and international TV stations. There will also be live feeds from the International Space Station and NASA balloons and aircraft.