The western portion of the Europe will experience a solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is planning a series of operating events in which the ham radio and medium wave listening communities can participate.
The RSGB's regular, live-streamed program Tonight@8, recently hosted Steve Nichols, G0YKA to describe the events. Originally 'broadcast' on 6 July 2026, a recording is available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0G3SaLTLp4&list=PLmtHS6LSBybYvVmSc3_9i5HirzfuXlJT1&index=2&t=11s.
Steve's talk, The Solar Eclipse and How You Can Participate, beings at approximately the 14th minute.
In the roughly 45 minute recording, Steve describes the eclipse path, where and when to expect total vs partial coverage, and many details on how to participate in the RSGB events: An HF contest (40 and 80 meters) and a medium wave listening event. Modes to be used include WSPR, CW and FT8 - plus good old audio monitoring (aided by Spectrum Lab software, if possible).
The event is sponsored by the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee, on which a number of HamSCI members sit: Jim Bacon G3YLA, Chris Deacon G4IFX, and Gwyn Griffiths G3ZIL \. Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA and Bill Liles NQ6Z are associate members. The committee is chaired by Steve Nichols G0YKA.
Good luck to all who participate, and if you happen to be anywhere near the path, don't forget to leave the shack at the proper time, put on your eclipse glasses, and have a look!