TOMORROW morning (Friday) will bring an unmissable astronomical spectacle to Worcester – so don’t forget to set the alarm clock.

A near-total solar eclipse – an event that will not be repeated for another decade – will start at 8.25am before reaching a maximum at about 9.30am and ending at 10.40am.

Thousands of sky-watchers in Worcestershire are expected to witness the phenomenon as the moon moves in front of the sun.

Chris Livingstone, chairman of Worcester Astronomical Society, said: “This is quite a rare occurrence.

“The moon will go right in front of the sun leaving it to look a bit like a banana.

“You must not look at it without some filtering eclipse glasses.”

A public viewing of the eclipse will be hosted by the society at Worcester Countryside Centre in Wildwood Drive.

The event will start at 8.15am, offering a sociable chance to witness the best solar eclipse visible from the British Isles since 2003.

This will be followed by an observing evening at Bishop Perowne Church of England College at 7.30pm, where members of the public can try out Worcester Astronomical Society’s powerful telescopes.

Mr Livingstone added: “People are invited to attend the event and look through telescopes at the many, many objects in the sky such as the Seven Sisters, Orion Nebula and Jupiter and the many Messier objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier – if the night is clear.”

A telescope workshop offering people practical advice and information will also be held at Bishop Perowne Church of England College on Thursday, March 26, while on Saturday (March 21) a space day will be held at Droitwich Spa library from 9.30am to 4.40pm.

Mr Livingstone added: “It is a very exciting time of the year for stargazing at the moment.

"We have Venus and Jupiter in the sky and a very rare eclipse.”

For more information visit worcesterastro.co.uk