People wait with cameras and other tools on the Gaisberg mountain in front of the sun in Salzburg, Austria on August 12, 2026, ahead of the partial solar eclipse.. CREDIT: AFP
A solar eclipse has begun across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, as the Moon gradually moves across the face of the Sun.
The eclipse became visible in Edinburgh at about 6:28pm BST on Wednesday and was expected to reach its peak at around 7:06pm in the Scottish capital.
According to the BBC, observers at Calton Hill in Edinburgh could see the Moon “starting to take a bite out of the sun,” while sunspots were also visible through telescopes.
The eclipse was already fully underway in parts of Iceland and Greenland, with several other European countries expected to experience a total eclipse.
More than 90 per cent of the Sun was expected to be covered 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 sites across the UK, while special eclipse glasses reportedly sold out in some locations.
Eclipse Begins in Russia
The Moon first began covering the Sun at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia at about 5pm GMT, leaving only the shimmering glow of the Sun’s outer corona visible and creating an eerie darkness.
As the eclipse moved through parts of Greenland and Iceland, excitement grew in Spain, where the narrow path of totality stretched diagonally from the northwestern Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean.
The eclipse was expected to end at about 6:30pm GMT.
Tourists and astronomy enthusiasts flocked to normally quiet Spanish villages to witness the event. Mainland Europe had not experienced a total solar eclipse in 20 years, while Spain had not witnessed one in more than a century.
What Is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on Earth and temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun’s light.
Depending on the alignment of the three celestial bodies, observers may experience a partial eclipse, during which only part of the Sun is covered, or a total eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun for a brief period along a narrow path.
Experts Warn Against Looking Directly at Sun
Experts have warned viewers against looking directly at the Sun without appropriate eye protection, as doing so can cause serious and permanent eye damage.
The rare celestial event has also attracted scientific interest, with a team of Irish researchers planning to travel across the Atlantic to study the Sun’s corona during the eclipse.
