Europe’s Sky To Go Dark In Rare Solar Eclipse
Total solar eclipse. Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
A rare total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Europe on Wednesday, briefly turning daylight into near darkness as the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun.
A wide stretch of northern and central Spain, along with parts of Portugal, Greenland and Iceland, will fall within the path of totality.
The eclipse will also be visible as a partial eclipse across much of western Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland and northern Italy.
The total eclipse is particularly significant for mainland Europe, where the last comparable event was visible two decades ago.
In the UK, Wednesday’s eclipse will be partial, with some areas experiencing more than 90 per cent coverage of the Sun.
In London, the eclipse is expected to begin at about 6:17 p.m. BST, peak around 7:13 p.m. and end shortly after 8 p.m.
Experts have urged viewers to take precautions, warning against looking directly at the Sun without proper eclipse glasses, as this can cause permanent eye damage.
For those unable to obtain eclipse glasses, astronomers recommend indirect viewing methods such as a pinhole projector.
The eclipse is expected to create a striking spectacle as the Moon gradually covers the Sun, leaving a narrowing crescent before daylight returns as the Moon moves away.
Credit: The Guardian
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