The UK and Europe have enjoyed their most dramatic solar eclipse for nearly 30 years, with millions thought to have witnessed the once-in-a-generation event. Those watching the astronomical phenomenon from the UK were treated to a partial eclipse, which peaked shortly after , when most saw more than 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon. But parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain experienced the complete darkness and spectacle of a total eclipse.
Large crowds at viewing sites across the UK and Europe reacted with gasps and cheers, with astronomy enthusiasts saying it served as a reminder of how "amazing" the Universe is. The path of the total eclipse began at the northern tip of Siberia in Russia, far away from crowds and telescopes. But it soon began curving around the Arctic Ocean arriving in Iceland in the early evening before sweeping southwards to treat the UK to part of its wonder.
The partial eclipse began at about in northern Scotland and just before 18:20 on the south coast of England. It was imperceivable at first, but for those blessed with cloud-free skies, crowds noticed the Moon nibbling away at the Sun. Much of central and southern England and Wales enjoyed perfect clear skies giving them an unrivalled view as the Moon moved slowly across the Sun over the course of an hour.
Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were cloudier, but it did not stop crowds turning out at famous landmarks across the country. Some had been successful in getting hold of solar eclipse glasses, but the vital eye protectors were in short supply in the run-up to the event with high-street shops and online suppliers all but sold out. Stock turned up for sale in unexpected places as retailers sought to cash in on demand, including a central London bakery.
But that did not deter people - colanders, cereal boxes and pieces of paper were deployed to offer them a glimpse of the partial eclipse safely. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking some or all of the Sun's light and casting a shadow on our planet. As time ticked by, slowly but surely the Moon obscured more of the Sun - acting like a dimmer switch as it did so.
As seen from the UK, the Sun, Moon and Earth were not quite directly in line. The result was a partial eclipse, with the Moon covering about 90% of the Sun for most of the UK - the country's most dramatic eclipse since 1999. In Cornwall, this was as high as 95%.
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