Bermuda will experience a darkening of the afternoon sky next Monday due to a partial eclipse of the sun.

At the height of the eclipse, the moon will obscure 85 per cent of the sun.

The island will fall beneath the partial shadow cast by the moon as it passes between the Earth and sun on August 21.

Bermuda is on the fringe of a much anticipated total solar eclipse that will be experienced across parts of the US as the moon perfectly aligns with the sun when viewed from the Earth.

Beneath a path about 70 miles wide, stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, the sun will be completely hidden by the moon. Those areas will experience total darkness for a few minutes as the moon’s shadow traverses the country. On average, a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere in the world every 18 months, although partial eclipses, such as the one Bermuda will experience, occur a little more frequently.

In Bermuda, the gradual darkening of the sky will begin around 2.51pm when a small portion of the sun is blocked by the moon as it begins to cross in front of it.

The partial eclipse will reach its maximum at 4.12pm when 85 per cent of the sun will be hidden.

The moon will complete its traverse of the sun, when viewed from Bermuda, at 5.25pm.

Skywatchers should note that it is never safe to look directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse.

Further details on the eclipse are available at https://tinyurl.com/y7pel5ep