By Ghazali Ibrahim
A rare solar eclipse swept across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe on Wednesday, drawing millions of people outdoors to witness the Moon pass between the Earth and the Sun.
The eclipse became visible in Edinburgh at about 6:28pm BST, with the event expected to reach its peak in the Scottish capital at around 7:06pm.
According to the BBC, spectators gathered at Calton Hill in Edinburgh as the Moon gradually appeared to take a “bite” out of the Sun, with sunspots also visible through telescopes.
The eclipse was already fully underway in parts of Iceland and Greenland, while several European countries were positioned to witness a total eclipse.
More than 90 per cent of the Sun was expected to be obscured by the Moon across much of the UK, making the event the most significant solar eclipse visible from the country since 1999.
Large crowds gathered at designated viewing points across Britain, with reports that special eclipse glasses had sold out in some locations as enthusiasts prepared to watch the phenomenon safely.
The Moon first began blocking the Sun at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia at about 5pm GMT, producing the distinctive glow of the Sun’s outer corona and a brief period of darkness along the path of totality.
The eclipse then moved through parts of Greenland and Iceland before reaching mainland Europe.
In Spain, where the eclipse’s path stretched diagonally from the northwestern Atlantic coast towards the Mediterranean, tourists and astronomy enthusiasts gathered in large numbers.
The event was particularly significant for Spain and mainland Europe, where total solar eclipses are relatively rare.
Mainland Europe had not experienced a total solar eclipse for about two decades, while Spain had not witnessed one in more than a century.
The spectacle was expected to continue across parts of Europe before gradually ending at about 6:30pm GMT.
The event has drawn widespread attention from astronomers, tourists and skywatchers, with authorities and experts urging members of the public to use certified eclipse glasses and other approved eye protection when viewing the Sun.
