The Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, in the UK’s only solar eclipse of the year.
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The UK’s only solar eclipse of the year has taken place.
The partial solar eclipse began at 10:08 BST in London, with the maximum eclipse at 10:59. It could be seen across the UK until about midday.
Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow.
One of the best views was in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles, with 28% of the Sun obscured at mid-eclipse.
The Royal Astronomical Society reminded people to never look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse.
Image source, Press Eye
Image source, Chris Brown
Internationally, the partial eclipse was first visible in Iceland at 09:58 BST, before it passed over the northern hemisphere, said the IMCCE observatory in Paris. It is due to end off the coast of India at 14:02 BST.
Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society, said observers in western Siberia received the best view of the eclipse, with the Moon obscuring about 82% of the Sun.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Image source, Nik/BBC Weather Watchers
The Royal Observatory Greenwich said even though a portion of the Sun’s light was blocked, it did not get noticeably darker in the UK.
The next partial solar eclipse will be visible from the UK in March 2025, with a total eclipse not forecast over UK mainland until 2090.
However, people can see a partial lunar eclipse from the UK next October, when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon and creates a shadow across the lunar surface.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Mr N Roberts
Image source, Wymondham College
Elsewhere, a total eclipse of the Sun is expected to pass over North America in April 2024 and in Spain in 2026.