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'Breathtaking' solar eclipse witnessed by millions 'Breathtaking' solar eclipse witnessed by millions
(35 minutes later)
Millions of people in the UK and northern Europe have glimpsed the best solar eclipse in years.Millions of people in the UK and northern Europe have glimpsed the best solar eclipse in years.
In a solar eclipse, a swathe of the Earth is plunged into darkness as the Moon comes between us and the Sun.In a solar eclipse, a swathe of the Earth is plunged into darkness as the Moon comes between us and the Sun.
This process began at 07:41 GMT and the deepest part of the Moon's shadow touched the Earth's surface at 09:13 GMT. In the UK the darkness peaked at about 09:35. From an aeroplane above the Faroe Islands, a BBC camera captured startling footage of the event reaching totality at 09:41 GMT.
Experts are warning people not to look directly at the phenomenon. As the Sun emerges from behind the Moon, people are still advised not to look directly at the phenomenon.
This is because even during the eclipse, looking directly at the Sun causes serious harm - but there are ways to watch the eclipse safely and many people are looking for a chance to do so. This is because even during the eclipse, looking directly at the Sun causes serious harm - but there are ways to watch the eclipse safely and many people have taken the chance to do so.
Within the UK, those opportunities are heavily dependent on the cloud cover that currently shrouds much of the country. In all parts of the UK the eclipse reached at least 83% and the darkness peaked at about 09:35 GMT.
But from an aeroplane above the Faroe Islands, a BBC camera captured the eclipse reaching totality at 09:41 GMT. Actual viewing opportunities were heavily dependent on the cloud cover that shrouded much of the country.
The deep shadow forms first in the North Atlantic, before sweeping up into the Arctic Circle and ending at the North Pole. The deep shadow formed first in the North Atlantic, before sweeping up into the Arctic Circle and ending at the North Pole.
The UK will not see a solar eclipse on this scale again until 2026, but the British weather is not being especially cooperative. The UK will not see a solar eclipse on this scale again until 2026.
Nonetheless, all parts of the UK are in line to see at least 83% of the Sun's disc obscured by the Moon. The exact moment of greatest darkness for UK skywatchers was dependent on their location.
The eclipse is a morning show. Penzance, in Cornwall, for example, had this moment at 09:23 GMT, whereas for Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, it happened at 09:43 GMT.
The exact moment of greatest darkness for UK skywatchers will be dependent on the location. For the Shetlands, the eclipse was very nearly total at 97%.
Penzance, in Cornwall, for example, has this moment at 09:23 GMT, whereas for Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, it happens at 09:43 GMT. To experience totality required going further north still - such as the trip taken by a BBC camera operator above the clouds in the Faroes.
For the Shetlands, the eclipse is very nearly total at 97%. Few land areas fall directly in the path of the Moon's deepest shadow - its so-called umbra - and seabirds will probably have had the best eclipse experience.
To experience totality requires going further north still. The period of greatest darkness - nearly three minutes - occurred over a spot in the Norwegian Sea, a little below the Arctic Circle, at 09:46 GMT.
Ocean darkness Many professional and amateur astronomers positioned themselves in the Faroe Islands, where the capital city of Torshavn got totality for a full two minutes, beginning just before 09:41 GMT.
However, few land areas fall directly in the path of the Moon's deepest shadow - its so-called umbra, and seabirds will probably get the best eclipse experience. And those who could not book a flight or a hotel for the Faroes went to Svalbard, where the capital city of Longyearbyen witnessed two-and-a-half minutes of totality, starting shortly after 10:10 GMT.
The period of greatest darkness - nearly three minutes - will occur over a spot in the Norwegian Sea, a little below the Arctic Circle, at 09:46 GMT.
Many professional and amateur astronomers have positioned themselves in the Faroe Islands, where the capital city of Torshavn gets totality for a full two minutes, beginning just before 09:41 GMT.
And those who could not book a flight or a hotel for the Faroes have gone to Svalbard, where the capital city of Longyearbyen witnesses two-and-a-half minutes of totality, starting shortly after 10:10 GMT.
An extraordinary sightAn extraordinary sight
How to watch the eclipse safelyHow to watch the eclipse safely
Why don't we see an eclipse every month?Why don't we see an eclipse every month?
Wherever people view the eclipse, they are strongly encouraged to do so in a safe way. For those caught under cloudy skies, the internet was a good option to see the eclipse.
For many, this will be the first such event they have experienced while owning a smartphone, and they may be tempted to use the device to get a shot of the Moon passing in front of the Sun. Scientific agencies had planes and even satellites gathering video to relay on the web and on television.
Of itself, this action is not dangerous, but there is a risk of looking into the Sun around the edge of the phone as the screen is lined up. In the UK, the weather turned out to be slightly better than anticipated, with clouds breaking in many places at just the right time. London and the South East, on the other hand, just saw their grey day get slightly gloomier.
It would be much safer, say experts, to go to one of the many well-organised public events where there will be specialist telescopes, solar eclipse viewing glasses and simple pinhole projection cameras. Irrespective of the cloud cover, scientists said citizens could still help them with their research.
Spoilsport?
The internet will be a good option, too, especially if the weather disappoints.
Scientific agencies have planes and even satellites gathering video to relay on the web and on television.
The weather always has the potential to play spoilsport, and early forecasts suggested thick cloud would cover much of the UK at the critical times.
A cold front is pushing south over the country and it may be that only a lucky few - most likely across the English Midlands and perhaps north-east Scotland - will get a glimpse of clear skies.
Irrespective of the cloud cover, scientists say citizens can still help them with their research.
A University of Reading team wants to learn more about how the atmosphere behaves as the Moon's shadow runs over the Earth.A University of Reading team wants to learn more about how the atmosphere behaves as the Moon's shadow runs over the Earth.
The National Eclipse Weather Experiment (NEWEx) needs people to record conditions at their locality. The National Eclipse Weather Experiment (NEWEx) asked people to record conditions at their locality.
Prof Giles Harrison explained: "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.Prof Giles Harrison explained: "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.
"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'."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'.
"This will give us a precious insight into how the Sun influences the clouds and wind, as well as more obvious effects, such as temperature."This will give us a precious insight into how the Sun influences the clouds and wind, as well as more obvious effects, such as temperature.
"By improving our understanding of how the weather works, we're better able to predict it, meaning scientists can further improve weather forecasts.""By improving our understanding of how the weather works, we're better able to predict it, meaning scientists can further improve weather forecasts."
'Eclipse wind''Eclipse wind'
One phenomenon the experiment hopes to investigate is the "eclipse wind". One phenomenon the experiment hopes to investigate is the "eclipse wind". This refers to changes in the breeze that eclipse observers have reported as darkness falls.
This refers to changes in the breeze that eclipse observers have reported as darkness falls. Oxford University scientists, meanwhile, are using the event to try to understand how eclipses affect electricity grids.
Oxford University scientists are using the event to try to understand how eclipses affect electricity grids. The deep shadow will have reduced the output from solar panels, which now supply a significant proportion of power needs right across Europe.
The deep shadow will reduce the output from solar panels, which now supply a significant proportion of power needs right across Europe. The researchers will look to see how this dip in performance impacted the stability of grid networks.
The researchers will look to see how this dip in performance impacts the stability of grid networks.
Next year will have a total solar eclipse, too.Next year will have a total solar eclipse, too.
That will occur on 9 March, and will cross Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and extend out over the Pacific.That will occur on 9 March, and will cross Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and extend out over the Pacific.
Are you planning to witness the eclipse? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Are you planning to witness the eclipse? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you canupload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you canupload here.
WARNING. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE, OR WITH CAMERAS, TELESCOPES, GLASSES OR DEVICES OF ANY KIND UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. LOOKING AT THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER PRECAUTIONS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS EYE DAMAGE.WARNING. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE, OR WITH CAMERAS, TELESCOPES, GLASSES OR DEVICES OF ANY KIND UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. LOOKING AT THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER PRECAUTIONS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS EYE DAMAGE.
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