Solar Eclipse (Partial) - plus (optional) Perseids after dark

There is a partial (but quite deep) solar eclipse on August 12 - to see a total eclipse you'd need to be in Spain or maybe Canada. Join us to see it together on Tooting Common (near Dr. Johnson Avenue car park and bus stop). It starts 6.17pm, maximum coverage (91%) at 7.13pm, and the moon leaves the sun at 8.06pm. As a partial eclipse (total in Spain and some other places) it will only get a little darker and cooler, but if weather allows, we will be able to see the moon as it crosses the sun up to 91.43% covered, and use suitably filtered equipment to see it close-up and any current sunspots during the event. I'll bring my telescope with a Baader solar filter and I'll have plenty of card solar eclipse sunglasses for us all (though if you have other safe equipment you're welcome to bring it, especially if you have a specialised highly-filtered solar-scope showing prominences and the hydrogen-alpha wavelengths view). Safety Notice DO NOT STARE AT THE SUN OR USE ANY OPTICAL EQUIPMENT WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE AND SAFETY. Families welcome, but please keep watch on children in your care for their safety - any equipment brought must be suitably protected and watched at all times so no safety filters are removed while pointed towards the sun or other risks. We have some safely filtered for sun-gazing sunglasses provided at low cost courteously by Astronomers Across Borders via GoStargazing to distribute to anyone who doesn't have one already (if you wish to contribute to our monthly Meetup running costs, please get in touch on the day or by online message). I expect some passers by on the path may be interested too. It's also the peak of the Perseid meteor shower which runs from 17 July to the end of August. If enough people want to stay and watch out for shooting stars, I might be up for a half-impromptu meet around the same area afterwards if the sky is clear enough, or after a stop for food. Bring snacks if you like! No equipment needed for Perseid watching, but something to sit/lie back on that you can look upwards for a long time without hurting your neck can be helpful. Meetpoint/Travel: We will meet in the park, on the other side of Dr. Johnson Avenue to the car park on that road (nearer the top end of the car park, away from the main road so the trees/buildings opposite don't obscure the view as the sun sets). Dr. Johnson Avenue is a turning off Tooting Bec Road, which has several busses running along it, and is also ~ 15 minutes walk from Tooting Bec underground station on the Northern line. Location: Google Maps link / What 3 Words: cotton again goals (approximately). Further timing details and visualisation of the eclipse at this Time and Date website page. More about Tooting Common at this Wandsworth council page. Check out the photos and comments from our 2025 eclipse meet (a Saturday morning), which had ~30 people stopping by in total. Including random members of the public who happened to just be out walking and stopped by to be curious. One member has asked if they can use a drone to do some aerial photography of us there, as long as they keep safe distance from astronomy equipment.