- Partial eclipse visible in East Anglia and on the south coast
After the earthquakes and freak weather of recent weeks, Britain was visited by another Biblical omen yesterday.
Those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of clear sky just after dawn enjoyed the spectacular sight of a partial eclipse of the Sun.
Between 8am and 9.30am it appeared to be missing a large chunk as the Moon passed between the Sun and the Earth.
Hamble, Hampshire: A partial solar eclipse was visible on England's south coast, as the moon covered the sun at around 8.10am. The majority of Britain had its view of the phenomenon obscured by cloud
Locon, northern France: The partial eclipse extended across much of Europe this morning. The greatest eclipse will occur over the city of Skelleftea in north-east Sweden, where the moon will block out almost 90 per cent of the sun
The dramatic sight could be witnessed in parts of East Anglia and the south coast of England, as well as across the globe.
But the majority of the country remained swathed in cloud, meaning the UK's first partial solar eclipse since August 2008 was hidden from view.
In London, where the eclipse ended at 9.31am, approximately 67 per cent of the sun was covered, although clouds obscured the event.
This compared to just under 70 per cent in Liverpool and Plymouth, while Glasgow reached 40 per cent and the Western Isles just 15 per cent.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN?
A solar eclipse takes place when the moon lines up between the sun and the Earth.
This casts a lunar shadow on the Earth's surface and obscures the solar disk.
During a partial solar eclipse, only part of the sun is blotted out.
Today's partial eclipse was visible across much of the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and central Asia.
It began in the skies over Northern Algeria, the first location to witness the phenomenon at 6.40am GMT.
Western Europe woke up to the sunrise eclipse as it extended across much of the content.
In Madrid, a little less than half of the sun's diameter was covered, whereas in Paris this coverage extended to 65 per cent.
The greatest eclipse occur later in the morning over the city of Skelleftea in north-east Sweden, where the moon blocked out almost 90 per cent of the sun.
In central Russia, north-west China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, the phenomenon will take place at sunset.
A plane is silhouetted against the partial eclipse over the cloudy skies of Barcelona
The celestial event produces a dazzling sight over Dinslaken, Germany. The greatest eclipse will occur over the city of Skelleftea in north-east Sweden, where the moon will block out almost 90 per cent of the sun
A solar eclipse takes place in the skies over Studencice, Slovenia. Northern Algeria was the first location to witness the celestial event at 6.40am GMT
In cloudy winter skies over Jerusalem, the sun appeared to have a bite taken out of its upper right section.
ECLIPSES TO COME IN 2011
- June 1 - Partial solar eclipse across Siberia, northern Canada, and Greenland
- June 15 - Total lunar exlipse across Eastern Hemisphere
- July 1 - Partial solar eclipse across southern Antarctic Ocean
- November 25 - Partial solar eclipse visible from southern tip of Africa after sunrise and from Tasmania and southern New Zealand before sunset
- December 10 - Total lunar eclipse the western U.S. and Canada
But in Britain skywatchers were barely able to witness the eclipse at all.
Among those thwarted by the overcast conditions were members of the Newcastle Astronomical Society, who set up telescopes and recording equipment to capture the phenomenon at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
But the cloud remained stubbornly in front of the Sun and the astronomers went away with nothing.
The last total eclipse of the sun visible from Britain took place in August 1999.
There will be three other partial solar eclipses in 2011, but none of them will be seen in the UK.
The cloudy conditions over Britain at least reduced the chances of eclipse-watchers damaging their eyesight.
Scientists warned that looking directly at the sun for even a few seconds could cause permanent impairment to vision.
Dame Sally Davies, the Government's Interim Chief Medical Officer, had called on parents to make sure their children understood the dangers.
Secret powers? A paralysed boy is buried up to his neck in sand by his parents in Hyderabad, Pakistan, following a doctor's recommendation that light from the eclipse could heal him
Magical moment: Venezuelan tourists watch the partial eclipse in front of the Giza Pyramids in Egypt
Safety first: Israelis watch the eclipse in the town of Givatayim near Tel Aviv
She said: 'Children are particularly vulnerable as they may be tempted to take a peek. We would urge parents to explain the danger to their children.
'We would not wish to see another case like the young boy who lost his central vision back in October 2005 through looking directly at a partial eclipse in his school playground.'Medical experts said the safest way to watch an eclipse is on the television or live webcasts on the internet.
Observing such an event directly through a telescope, binoculars or camera is not safe under any circumstances.
Dame Sally added: 'Under no circumstances should people look directly at the sun during a partial eclipse.
'The risks of doing so are very real and could lead to irreversible damage to eyesight and even blindness.'
Even viewing a partial eclipse through sunglasses or photographic film is also 'wholly inadequate', experts warned.
They said only specially designed solar filters bearing the appropriate CE mark can be used to view the eclipse directly.
Telescopes ready: Members of the Newcastle Astronomical Society wait at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay as overcast skies prevented a view of the eclipse
Different phases: Today's partial solar eclipse as seen from the Zugspitze mountain near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany
