Solar eclipse sweeps across UK, parts of Europe

A rare solar eclipse captivated observers across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe on Wednesday. The celestial event began in Edinburgh around 6:28 p.m. BST, with its peak expected at 7:06 p.m. in the Scottish capital. Reports from Calton Hill indicated sunspots were visible through telescopes as the Moon gradually obscured the Sun.

The eclipse had already graced Iceland and Greenland and was anticipated to deliver a total eclipse to several other European nations. In the UK, over 90 percent of the Sun was expected to be hidden, marking the most significant solar eclipse visible from the country since 1999. The spectacle spurred large gatherings at viewing sites nationwide, leading to a sell-out of specialist eclipse glasses in some locations.

Further east, the eclipse reached northernmost Russia around 1700 GMT, where the Moon's passage revealed the Sun's outer corona. The phenomenon then traversed Greenland and Iceland before reaching Spain. Enthusiasts and tourists congregated in Spanish towns, drawn by heightened interest as mainland Europe had not experienced a total solar eclipse in two decades, and Spain itself had not seen one in over a century.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow. Experts issued warnings against direct sun gazing without certified eye protection due to the risk of permanent eye damage. The event also spurred scientific curiosity, with Irish researchers planning transatlantic travel to study the Sun's corona.

“

More than 90 per cent of the Sun was expected to be obscured across much of the UK, making the event the most significant solar eclipse visible from the country since 1999.