Millions of people across the UK and Europe have witnessed the region’s most dramatic solar eclipse in nearly three decades, as the Moon obscured more than 90% of the Sun in many areas.
While observers in the UK experienced a partial eclipse that peaked shortly after 19:00 BST, parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain were plunged into darkness during a total eclipse.
Crowds gathered at viewing locations across the continent, reacting with cheers and gasps as daylight gradually faded. Astronomy enthusiasts described the rare spectacle as a powerful reminder of the scale and beauty of the universe.
The eclipse’s path began over the remote northern tip of Siberia before curving across the Arctic Ocean. It reached Iceland during the early evening and then continued south, bringing a partial eclipse to the UK.
The event began at around 18:00 BST in northern Scotland and shortly before 18:20 along England’s south coast. Although the initial changes were difficult to detect, viewers beneath clear skies soon saw the Moon begin to move across the Sun.
Central and southern England, along with much of Wales, enjoyed particularly favourable conditions. Clear skies provided uninterrupted views as the Moon gradually covered the Sun over approximately one hour.
Conditions were cloudier across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but large crowds still assembled at prominent landmarks to watch the event.
Demand for certified solar eclipse glasses surged ahead of the spectacle, leaving opticians, hardware shops and even bakeries sold out in many places. Those unable to find protective glasses used homemade viewing devices made from colanders, cereal boxes and sheets of paper.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the sunlight and casting its shadow across the planet.
From the UK, the three celestial bodies were not perfectly aligned, resulting in a partial rather than total eclipse. Around 90% of the Sun was covered across most of the country, making it Britain’s most significant eclipse since 1999. Coverage reached approximately 95% in Cornwall.
Parts of Spain, however, experienced the full spectacle. At around 19:30 BST, or 20:30 local time, the Sun, Moon and Earth briefly aligned to produce a total eclipse.
Chilean scientist Yasmin Catricheo travelled thousands of miles to A Coruña in north-western Spain to witness the event.
“At the totality, everyone was cheering and sharing the excitement of what we were seeing. No words could describe the feeling,” she said. “The universe is amazing.”
Although a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months, any individual location may wait around 400 years to experience one.
Viewers positioned along the eclipse’s path in Spain saw the Sun disappear behind the Moon, revealing the glowing corona surrounding it. The corona consists of extremely hot gas extending thousands of miles into space.
Some observers may also have spotted small loops of pink gas known as prominences, which trace the Sun’s turbulent magnetic field.
Totality lasted for less than two minutes before the Moon began uncovering the Sun, but the brief display left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it.
The phenomenon is possible because of an extraordinary astronomical coincidence. The Sun is approximately 150 million kilometres from Earth—around 400 times farther away than the Moon.
However, because the Moon’s diameter is also about 400 times smaller, the two bodies appear almost identical in size when viewed from Earth.
If the Moon were slightly smaller or orbited farther from Earth, it would not completely cover the Sun and total solar eclipses would not occur.
Astronomers say the world is entering a “golden age” of eclipses, with three total solar eclipses taking place between 2026 and 2028.
None will be visible as a total eclipse from the UK. The country’s next notable event will be a partial eclipse in 2027, when some areas could see around 45% of the Sun covered.
Britain will have to wait until 2081 to experience an eclipse of greater magnitude than the latest event, with up to 99% coverage expected. The UK’s next total solar eclipse is not due until 2090.
