Free family partial eclipse viewing with The Curiosity Lab
Wednesday 12th August 2026 from 18:00pm to 20:00pm
Merryoaks Community Hall
Park House Road, Durham, County Durham, DH1 3QF, North East England
Join The Curiosity Lab at Merryoaks Community Hall for a free family-friendly celebration of the August solar eclipse! The team are delighted to be returning to Merryoaks for this special event, where visitors of all ages can safely experience one of nature’s most spectacular sights.
The eclipse will reach around 90% coverage in Durham, making it a truly impressive event to witness. Free eclipse glasses will be provided, along with fun activities and opportunities to learn more about the Sun, eclipses, and our place in the Solar System. Whether you’re a seasoned skywatcher or simply curious about the cosmos, come along and share this unforgettable astronomical experience with us.
Event booking
Event darkness
The below chart shows if and when the skies will be at their darkest during this event. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing.
Wed 12th Aug
Local light pollution
Merryoaks Community Hall is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a suburban location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.
-
Urban
-
Suburban
-
Semi-rural
-
Rural
-
Dark site
The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.
Forthcoming events
Below is a list of events at Merryoaks Community Hall. View these events on our calendar, add them to your calendar or Google Calendar.
Stay and gaze nearby
Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.