Space & Astronomy

Millions view eclipse over UK and Europe

By T.K. Randall
March 20, 2015

Image: Total Solar Eclipse (2017)
Credit: Curtisbeimborn / CC BY 4.0 (adapted) Large numbers of eager sky-watchers turned out earlier today across the British Isles and parts of northern Europe to catch a glimpse of the moment that the moon passed in front of the sun.

One of the best viewing spots was the Faroe Islands which, despite being mostly overcast, offered the experience of a total eclipse to those who had a clear view of the sun at around 9:40am GMT.All parts of the UK saw a minimum of 83% totality.

"This is the first big partial eclipse to happen in the UK since 1999, and the next one isn't until August 2026, so this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity," said Prof Giles Harrison.

"By observing what happens on Friday we are effectively turning the skies of Britain into a giant weather lab, giving us a rare chance to see what happens when you 'turn down the Sun.'"


Source: BBC News

Tags: Eclipse, Sun