Today’s Wednesday science lesson uses a BBC News report on the solar eclipse visible across the UK and parts of Europe, with a focus on astronomy vocabulary and safe viewing.
Title: UK to get best eclipse since 1999 as Moon blocks out Sun across Europe
Source: BBC News
Published: August 11, 2026
Original article: BBC News article link
BBC News reports that the UK is set to see its fullest solar eclipse since 1999 on Wednesday evening, with up to 96% of the Sun’s disc covered by the Moon in some locations. Other places, including northern Spain, Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and Russia, will be able to see a total eclipse.
The article explains where the eclipse will be most visible, why the weather matters, and how a solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Moon, and Sun align. It also warns readers not to look directly at the Sun without certified protection, because unsafe viewing can permanently damage the eyes.
BBC News 報導，英國週三傍晚將迎來自 1999 年以來最完整的一次日食；部分地區可看到月球遮住最多 96% 的太陽圓面。西班牙北部、格陵蘭、冰島、葡萄牙與俄羅斯等地則可觀賞到日全食。
文章說明哪些地區能看得最清楚、天氣如何影響觀測，以及地球、月球和太陽排列成一直線時日食如何發生。報導也提醒，觀看日食必須使用合格的護目設備，直接看太陽可能造成永久性眼睛傷害。
able to be seen, especially from a particular place or under particular conditions.
In article: “It will be visible across the whole of the UK, with up to 96% of the Sun's disc covered by the Moon, depending on your location.”
可見的、看得到的；常用來描述天象、現象或事件能否從某個地點被觀察到。
covered, hidden, or made difficult to see clearly.
In article: “In the UK, more than 90% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon at the peak, which will fall between 18:58 and 19.15 BST.”
被遮住、被遮蔽；表示某物被擋住，因此不容易或無法清楚看見。
related to astronomy, the scientific study of the Sun, Moon, stars, planets, and space.
In article: “This includes northern Spain, where hundreds of thousands of people have travelled for the astronomical spectacle.”
天文的、與天文學有關的；用來描述太陽、月亮、星體、太空等相關現象或研究。
the phase of a solar eclipse when the Moon completely covers the Sun, as seen from a narrow path on Earth.
In article: “The Moon's shadow traces a line called the path of totality as the Earth rotates and the Moon's position changes.”
全食階段；在日食中指月球完全遮住太陽時的狀態，也常見於「全食帶」等天文表達。
a thin, reddish layer of the Sun’s atmosphere just above its visible surface, sometimes seen during a total eclipse.
In article: “And just above the visible surface sits a thin, pinkish layer called the chromosphere - only a few thousand kilometres thick.”
色球層；太陽大氣中位於可見表面上方的薄層，在日全食時可能呈現粉紅或紅色邊緣。