.Send your own eclipse pictures and videos to: mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk
- .Millions watched the skies darken as the Moon covered most of the sun at around 9.30am today
- .In the Hebrides the sun was practically invisible as the Isle of Lewis experienced a 98 per cent eclipse
- .But a blanket of cloud sitting across much of the UK meant millions of others were left disappointed
- .It is first solar eclipse in the UK this century and it will not happen for at least another decade
- .Extraordinary total eclipses were seen in the Faroe Islands and also on Svalbard in Norway
- .Economy hit to the tune of £500million as people abandoned homes and offices to watch the solar eclipse
Millions across Britain stopped to watch the first solar eclipse of this century today, which plunged parts of the UK in to brief darkness.
Britain's skies began to darken at around 8.24am this morning as the Moon started to move between us and the sun, with the eclipse peaking at around 9.30am across the country.
The sun's light was almost totally concealed, casting a huge shadow of the Moon across the nation turning day briefly to night, but watchers could not look directly at the sun because they risked damaging their eyes.
In the Hebrides the sun was practically invisible as the Isle of Lewis experienced a 98 per cent eclipse, while the Faroe Islands and Svalbard in Norway saw a total eclipse.
But Met Office satellite maps show that there was cloud coverage over more than half of the country this morning, which meant that millions across Britain were unable to see anything at all of the eclipse.
Another 'deep' partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12 2026, and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE
Drama: The total solar eclipse at Svalbard in Norway as a 100-mile-wide 'totality' shadow path crossed the North Atlantic in a once-in-a-generation event
Watching: Children from St Ursula's School in Greenwich looking at the eclipse from the Greenwich Observatory
Lining up: Spectators at the Eden Project watch the eclipse with their special glasses but still have to shield their eyes because of the sharp sunlight
View from space: The European Space Agency's sun-watching mini satellite captured how the moon covered the sun this morning
Blanket: This Met Office satellite map taken at the climax of the eclipse, which is why is is also very dark, show that there was cloud coverage over more than half of the country this morning, which meant that millions across Britain were unable to see anything at all
Many people were left disappointed as persistent cloud cover meant they were robbed of a view of the partial eclipse.
Satellite images from the Met Office showed thick cloud covering an area of England south and east of a line from southern Devon to the Wash in East Anglia at 9.17am.
An image taken an hour later showed it had moved slightly eastwards, allowing more people to get a glimpse of the phenomenon.
But many, including in London and the Home Counties, were left unable to get a view
The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, and was 'total' - with 100 per cent of the sun covered when seen from Cornwall.
Today's eclipse produced a 100-mile-wide 'totality' shadow path that crossed the North Atlantic and covers only two land masses, the Faroe Islands between Scotland and Iceland and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.
Away from this path the sun was partly obscured. A partial eclipse was visible across a large part of the northern hemisphere, including the whole of Europe, Greenland, Newfoundland, northern Africa and western Asia.
In Eastbourne, East Sussex, dozens of people, including schoolchildren allowed to take time off to watch the spectacle, were left disappointed by complete cloud cover.
Mother of two Stacey White, 32, said: 'It's been a real let down. The kids had been looking forward to seeing it but in the end we were just left staring at cloudy sky.
'It went a little bit dark but not enough to really make it seem like a real occasion.
'It's a shame because the one in 1999 was amazing. This one has left us a bit disappointed.'
A group standing by the Clifton Observatory in Bristol took turns to look through their giant pinhole camera and a piece of welding glass.
Robin Neville, 25, said it had taken around an hour to make the contraption.
'We cobbled it together out of boxes,' Mr Neville said. 'The view up here is great and we are next to a working camera obscura too. You can see most of Bristol from here.'
In Eastbourne, East Sussex, complete cloud cover was spoiling the eclipse for dozens of people who gathered on the Western Lawns.
Some schoolchildren were given time off lessons to observe the eclipse but they were left disappointed.
Astronomer Harry Ford, retired from Greenwich Observatory, said: 'I was able to demonstrate the last eclipse in 1999 in the courtyard by the Greenwich Observatory but right now it looks like it's going to be a disappointment.
'Thick cloud doesn't look like it's lifting at all. Fortunately we have plenty of people to explain what they should be seeing. It seems that people in the West Country, like Devon and Cornwall, are having better weather than we are'.
Beautiful: Svalbard was one of the few places on the planet to see a total eclipse, while in the UK there was a 98 per cent eclipse in Scotland
View: The eclipse as seen from the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides, where people were able to see 98 per cent of the sun covered by the moon
Sequence: The progress of the eclipse as seen from Penzance is shown in these photographs taken at five-minute intervals
Greatest show on earth: This is the moment there was a total eclipse in the Faroe Islands this morning, where eclipse-hunters paid thousands to be this morning
Start: The Moon begins to cross the sun above Leicester this morning as the eclipse began at around 8.24am this morning as millions watched the sky
Spiritual home: The most famous prehistoric monument in the world and a pagan shrine saw one of the best views of the eclipse
Drama: This is the moment the Moon almost covered the sun in St Austell, Cornwall, this morning as millions watched the skies for the first eclipse of the century
Spot the difference: This is the scene overlooking Torshavn, the capital of the Faeroe Islands, during their total eclipse, left, and then afterwards, right
The skies darken over Arbroath, Anugus this morning as the eclipse peaked at around 9.30am this morning
Gloom: As the eclipse reached its peak at Stonehenge and over Worcester Cathedral, both were plunged into darkness and the temperature fell
Seascape: The skies darken over a single boat in the sea at Arbroath, Anugus, this morning during the eclipse
Delight: A young pupil at St Vincent's Catholic Primary School in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, cannot hide his joy at seeing the eclipse
Young fans: A schoolgirl equipped with solar filter glasses watches the eclipse from outside the museum in Cardiff
Gadget: A pinhole camera is deployed by eclipse enthusiasts who gathered in Cardiff this morning
Safety first: One pet owner put eclipse glasses on her dog so the animals could watch safely from Regent's Park in London
Homemade: Primary school pupils using their own eclipse viewers to watch the phenomenon in Greenwich
Wonder: Pupils at Handcross Park School in Sussex gathered to watch the eclipse
Lens: A woman in Budapest using a special glass lens to watch the eclipse
More than 100 people flocked to the 5000-year-old Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis to witness the solar eclipse.
And they were rewarded most of the time by a break in the clouds - almost to the point of near totality.
Lewis had been billed as the prime place in Britain to see the solar phenomenon.
Caroline Pritchard, 58, and her partner Laurence McCallum, 50, travelled 905 miles in a 21 hour car and ferry journey - together with their three dogs - to see the event.
'This is the end of the age of Aquarius and we wanted to get here to see the eclipse,' said Mr McCallum, who works in a fine food business.
'I took the week off work unpaid and it has been worth it. It was fantastic. We arrived on Tuesday and unfortunately missed the other great astronomical event here this week - the Northern Lights. But the eclipse more than made up for it.'
Ms Pritchard agreed: 'I am a spiritual person and I was drawn here to see the eclipse. I believe in powers greater than ourselves.'
Islander Linda Vaughan, 62, from Crossbost, rang a Tibetan bowl to herald the eclipse as it created dusk - with temperatures noticeably plunging with the sun's infra red blocked out.
'The sound resonates with the stones. This is a spiritual and sacred place.. It is about creating the right harmony,' she said.
Four intrepid shadow seekers even boarded a special boat trip with Kilda Cruises from Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris at 5am to witness the eclipse at remote St Kilda.
The archipelago, 41 miles west of the main Outer Hebrides, was forecast to be cloud free at the time of the event.
Donny Mackay, president of the Stornoway Astronomical Society, said it received over 500 inquiries by email - as well as 100 phone calls - fromall over the UK as well as far away as Germany.
'I was a bit worried when I saw the cloud early this morning but it turned out as good as we could have hoped for. It was reallty memorable,' he said.
Elly Welsh and her children Tam, 10, and Dusty, 8, even made their own viewer while pupils for Stornoway Primary were allowed to witness the event.
The expected influx of tourists did not reach the scale that was hoped for.
The main tourist office for the isles said it had had 'very few' inquries - and had received more about seeing the Northern Lights, which lit up the Hebridean sky on Tuesday night.
Aird Uig, on the western tip of Lewis, experienced the deepest part of the eclipse in the UK with 98 percent totality.
Pupils at the local Uig primary school made eclipse viewers.
A total solar eclipse can be seen here over the mountains of Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway, bringing darkness to the beautiful island
Landscape: The partial eclipse as seen from Stonehenge, where the spring equinox was also being celebrated
View: The eclipse over Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's capital, as it neared its peak around 9.30am
Space odyssey: This is the moment the sun disappeared seen from above the atmosphere in space
As it happened: Pictures from Falmouth show the partial eclipse from start to finish
Still: Sharp spring sunshine was dulled by the eclipse over Swansea Marina in South Wales today
Sliver: The eclipse as it was close to its maximum extent in Edinburgh, left, and Oldham, right
An eclipse of the sun over one of the the Liver Birds on the Royal Liver building in Liverpool, as a near-total eclipse of the sun happened
South-west: The eclipse in Plymouth, Devon, left, and Newquay in Cornwall this morning, with the south-west being one of the best places to watch
View: The sun as seen from Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, with an ornate weather vane in front of it
Glee: These sky watchers in Glasgow clearly enjoyed the eclipse as did Veronica Faluyi from Saint Ursula's Covent Secondary School in Greenwich
Obscured: In some areas cloud cover was expected to affect the view of the eclipse; pictured is the view from Bridgwater in Somerset
Fog on the Tyne: There was thick cloud over Newcastle as the eclipse progressed
Progress: The sun above Edinburgh this morning as the moon passed across the sky, left; a dove gets in the way of the view in Munich, right
Daybreak: The sun above the Eden Project in Cornwall as the eclipse began at around 8.30am this morning
North: The start of the partial solar eclipse in Northumberland, shown in this photo taken with a solar filter
Covered: The eclipse pictured this morning from Northampton, left, and Coventry, right
In sunny Edinburgh, around 200 people gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to watch the eclipse, while in Bristol sky-watchers standing by the Clifton Observatory took turns to look through a giant pinhole camera.
Standing stones added to the atmosphere at Stonehenge and on the Isle of Lewis, with clouds parting at both locations to allow people to witness the event.
A short break in the clouds brought gasps of excitement from hundreds of primary school children gathered at Glasgow Science Centre who managed to catch a glimpse of the eclipse.
But others were left nursing disappointment.
Around 600 people gathered in London's Regent's Park for an event organised jointly by the Royal Astronomical Society and Baker Street Irregular Astronomers, only to be thwarted by the clouds.
Simon Bennett, who co-founded the Baker Street group, said: 'We've been unlucky, but that is what astronomy is - you can't guarantee anything.'
He added: 'The level of interest in the night sky and the daytime sky is quite remarkable.'
In Eastbourne, East Sussex, complete cloud cover spoiled the eclipse for dozens of people gathered on the Western Lawns, including a number of children who had been given time off school.
The National Grid said the impact of the eclipse would be offset by large numbers of people leaving their homes to witness the event.
As a result, it was expecting a net 200 megawatt drop in demand at 9.30am, equivalent to the typical electricity usage of Glasgow.
Jeremy Caplin, forecasting manager at National Grid, said: 'This loss of solar is entirely manageable and will be largely offset by demand suppression. We started planning for this in May last year and have a range of tools in place to manage any effects of the eclipse and balance the network, including demand side services and extra generation.'
The effect on solar power is likely to be greater in other parts of Europe which depend more than we do on the sun for electricity generation.
Solar panels feed large amounts of electricity into the power grids of Germany, Italy and France. In the summer, up to 40% of Germany's energy comes from its solar farms.
The last European eclipse occurred before the proliferation of solar power, so experts are somewhat in the dark over what will actually happen.
Beauty spot: Gloom descends over the River Severn and Worcester Cathedral this morning as the sun became covered by the moon
The once-in-a-decade solar eclipse earlier today over Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland
People watch in darkness during the totality of a solar eclipse on as seen from a hill beside a hotel on the edge of the city overlooking Torshavn, the capital city of the Faeroe Islands
A partial solar eclipse of the sun is visible next to the statues of Milan's cathedral in northern Italy today
Framed: The partial solar eclipse seen above a mosque in Oxford topped with the Islamic crescent symbol
Spectacle: Observers gathered in Cardiff using specially adapted equipment to watch the progress of the eclipse
Enthusiasts: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, left, watched the eclipse in Glasgow; fisherman Paul Barker, right, looked up from the dock in Ilfracombe, Devon
Royals: The Dutch king and queen, Willem-Alexander and Maxima, with their eclipse glasses on in Hamburg
Crowd: People watching the Solar Eclipse on Primrose Hill took extra precautions to protect themselves but were left disappointed by dense cloud cover
View: The public was warned not to look directly at the sun and to use solar glasses with thick filters
Inventive: One viewer used beer boxes and Pringles tubes to make an impromptu eclipse viewer
Handout: A police officer giving away solar glasses to the crowds at Regent's Park
Disappointment: Many Londoners were unable to see the eclipse because of the clouds above the city, pictured
Waiting game: A photographer prepares for the solar eclipse in Nottinghamshire, which enjoyed clear skies
New dawn: The Sun rises over the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall, ahead of a near-total eclipse of the sun
One of the best vantage points was in South Gloucestershire, where amateur astronomer Ralph Wilkins described the 'eerie' feeling as a chilly gloom descended and shadows sharpened.
Elsewhere there were reports of birds 'going crazy' and flocking to trees, confused by the fading light.
For much of the UK, the eclipse revealed itself as an abnormal level of darkness at 9.30am in the morning while the sun remained hidden behind a blanket of cloud.
But there were pockets of clear skies over Wales, parts of the West Country and the Midlands, and eastern Scotland around Edinburgh.
Around the UK, the proportion of the sun covered by the moon increased towards the north, ranging from 84% in London to 89% in Manchester, 93% in Edinburgh and 97% in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.
Times also varied. In overcast London, the eclipse began at 8.24am, and reached its maximum extent at 9.31am. For observers in Edinburgh, it started at 8.30am and peaked at 9.35 am.
The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, and was 'total' - with 100% of the Sun covered - when seen from Cornwall.
Another 'deep' partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12, 2026, and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.
Ralph Wilkins, from the London-based Baker Street Irregular Astronomers, who joined a group of sky-watchers outside a school in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire, to witness the eclipse, said: 'The sky started clearing just after first contact and we were able to watch the moon glide in front of the sun.
'It was a unique experience - eerie is the right word for it. The shadows started to sharpen and everything began to develop this yellowish hue.
'Whenever there's a solar eclipse in the UK you tend to get cloud, so to be treated to clear skies was really wonderful. It really was beautiful. We were all thrilled.'
Brian Stokes, chairman of the Swansea Astronomical Society, joined eclipse watchers on a bright sunny morning at the city's National Waterfront Museum.
He said: 'It was open to everyone and people were being handed solar eclipse glasses. We were there with our telescopes.
'I saw about 80% of the sun covered, with a clear crescent at the bottom. Looking through a telescope, it was magnificent.
'The Swansea promenade was packed with people; they were lined all the way along. I thought that was wonderful but trusted that they were using the right equipment.'
He said he had spoken to about 1,000 children and adults about the dangers of looking directly at the sun.
'I've been in two minds about the eclipse,' said Mr Stokes. 'On the one hand I was excited and couldn't wait, but another part of me wanted it to be cloudy. Then I'd I be assured that all the primary school children were safe.'
Protection: An eclipse watcher looks on a in Worcestershire while a man views the solar eclipse outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
Victoria, from Birmingham, looks up to the sun wearing protective goggles as she sits on the beach with her dog during a partial solar eclipse in Barcelona
Spectators observe the partial solar eclipse in Belgrade, Serbia, as the Partial Solar Eclipse was seen in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa
Picture postcard: An Egyptian uses special glasses to view a partial solar eclipse as people gather near the Sphinx at the Giza Pyramids
Breathtaking: The Wetterstein mountains darken during the partial solar eclipse in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Football stars: Former England manager Fabio Capello watches near the Kremlin in central Moscow, where he now manages Russia, while Bayern Munich players Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia stare from behind glasses
A celestial spectacular ruined by the British weather: Cloud wrecks chance of seeing the eclipse for millions across the UK
Millions of Britons were left disappointed by the first solar eclipse this century after heavy cloud coverage obscured the view across the country.
But many reacted with typical British humour and took to social media to ask 'what eclipse?' and post hilarious memes as the celestial show peaked at around 9.30am amid grey skies.
Jack Fraser posted a picture of grey clouds with a caption: 'What a view of the eclipse. Where are my sunglasses?'
Jackie Stradling said: So glad I didn't go to the trouble of getting special eclipse goggles. Can't see a thing! #whateclipse?
Sarah Rees said: 'It had to be cloudy today didn't it #eclipse2015 #whateclipse'
Martha Edwards said: 'Well that was a disappointment. Pretty nonexistent eclipse. Felt like just another dull day to me.'
Millions of Britons were left disappointed by the first solar eclipse this century after heavy cloud coverage obscured the view, pictured in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
Maggie Towner said: 'Belinda have I overslept and missed it? Nothing happening here #eclipse #whateclipse?'
Harry Broster said: 'Eclipse conspiracy. I want my money back.'
Laura Stewart said: 'Felt more like a day in January to me.'
Enthusiasts gathered at places such as Stonehenge and the Isle of Lewis to catch a glimpse of the eclipse but were disappointed by the cloud cover obstructing the view.
Software engineer Amarjeet Rai, from London, said: 'Solar eclipse this morning. Shame it's cloudy.'
RG Goldie from Jersey tweeted: 'So cloudy I can't even tell where the sun is right now.'
The moon started moving at 8.24am and peak at around 9.30am. It is expected to finish at around 10.30.
Lincolnshire and the Midlands through to southern parts of Wales were treated to the best view as the moon moved in front of the sun covering up to 97 per cent of its surface.
Around 40 million people in Scotland were unable to see the eclipse due to cloud coverage and heavy rain. The moon started moving at 8.24am and areas such as Plymouth and Swansea saw the full solar eclipse first.
Met Office forecaster Kate Brown said said: 'The south-east corner is currently overcast and is going to stay that way into the time of the eclipse. But even if people don't see it happening they will still be able to sense it getting darker during that time.'
A Met Office spokeswoman said: 'Forecasting exactly where cloud will break and re-form is really not scientifically possible. But it's not as thick in the south as further north, so you're more likely to see breaks in the cloud the further south you are.'
Hundreds took to social media hto complain about the heavy cloud cover obscuring their view.
Sophia Swain said: 'Most of the Shard obscured by heavy cloud. No eclipse spotting here then... #eclipse2015 #London #annoying #LoveALunarEvent'
Brian Ramsbottom said: 'Too much cloud in Dublin to see #eclipse, we must make a sacrifice quickly to appease the cloud gods, I nominate Ryan Tubridy #makeitso'
Leisha said: 'Got no chance of seeing the eclipse when all I can see is thick white cloud!'
Despite the cloud, the event is expected to have a significant impact on the National Grid with a predicted loss of 850 megawatts of solar power from the electricity supply network.
The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, and was 'total' - with 100 per cent of the sun covered when seen from Cornwall.
Another 'deep' partial eclipse visible in the UK will not occur until August 12 2026, and the next total eclipse not until September 2090.
Where were all the glasses? Thousands unable to enjoy the eclipse after shops fail to stock enough special eyewear
As the country prepared for the solar eclipse, advice on how to safely watch it was rife.
With primary schools refusing pupils permission to view it and the rest of the public urged to buy appropriate eyewear, many were left desperately searching for the elusive eclipse glasses.
But with just one day to go before the spectacle swept the UK, thousands of people were left at a loss yesterday when nowhere seemed to be selling them.
Eclipseglasses.co.uk was forced to stop taking orders last week after becoming inundated with requests with so few other retailers selling the eyewear
Disgruntled shoppers took to Twitter to express their frustration after being unable to find the glasses
None of the country's main supermarket chains were stocking the glasses and dedicated websites had long sold out.
Eclipseglasses.co.uk shut up shop last week after being snowed under with orders while other online prices soared.
Sky at Night, the BBC's science magazine, was offering a free pair with every copy of its March issue that costs £7.99, but shoppers were otherwise left no choice but to scour the web for sets.
Amazon and eBay were selling the glasses individually and in bulk, with prices ranging from £20 a pair to £50 for ten.
Many complained about the shortage, claiming more were available at the last eclipse.
In 1999, around 70 people reported a loss of vision after staring directly at the sun as it eclipsed the moon.
Around 35 reported problems within two days, Public Health England said.
John O'Hagan, head of the optical radiation group at PHE, urged caution when preparing to watch it.
He said: 'An eclipse is an amazing spectacle and one which we expect people all over the UK to enjoy.
'But it's important to remember that this amazing sight, if viewed incorrectly, could pose a risk to your eyesight.
'Even if it's cloudy there's a risk of eye damage. Sunglasses won't give enough protection. Although they may reduce the sun's glare, they allow you to look for longer, allowing more sunlight into the eye.'
'In an eclipse, strong sunlight penetrates into our eyes and the retina can be damaged, without the feeling of pain.'
Furious parents spoke out earlier in the week after being told their children would not be allowed to watch the eclipse over health and safety fears.
In Cheshire parents were asked to sign permission slips if they wanted their child to be involved while parents in Aberdeenshire resorted to keeping their children off school so that they could witness the eclipse.
Some schools were selling glasses to pupils for £1 while others invited children to bring colanders to watch from the playground.
How YOU saw the eclipse: MailOnline readers share their pictures of the once-in-a-generation celestial spectacular
Hundreds of MailOnline readers from across the country have shared their stunning pictures of this morning's solar eclipse despite heavy cloud coverage obscuring the view.
The celestial spectacular, which will not be seen again until 2026, plunged Britain into darkness this morning, turning the air cold and drawing the gazes of thousands of people towards the sky.
Breaks in the cloud provided the perfect view for some and these readers were able to make the most of the conditions to take these shots.
The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, and was 'total' - with 100 per cent of the sun covered when seen from Cornwall.
Send your own eclipse pictures and videos to: mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk
Hundreds of MailOnline readers from across the country have shared their photographs of this morning's solar eclipse, pictured is a stunning shot from David Racz
The celestial spectacular, which will not be seen again until 2026, plunged Britain into darkness this morning, pictured is a photograph taken on an iPad in Manchester
Breaks in the cloud provided the perfect view for some, pictured (left) is a view from an industrial park and (right) is a submission from Marti Haldane
MailOnline readers were able to make the most of the cloudy conditions in the UK, pictured is a dramatic submission from Jules
The last solar eclipse of such significance occurred on August 11 1999, pictured is a stunning submission from Hayley Towns
Some used unusual equipment to take their pictures of the celestial event, including Alan Ketton who used a pinhole camera
The celestial spectacular will not be seen again until 2026, pictured are submissions from Sharon (left) and Rebecca Demaine (right)
Sharon sent in this picture of the heavy cloud obscuring the eclipse near the Angel of the North in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
This stunning shot showing the solar eclipse over Preston, Lancashire, at around 9.15 this morning was sent in by Ben Robinson
No comments:
Post a Comment