Skywatchers across UK wowed as rare solar eclipse blots out most of the sun

Shops sell out of special glasses as millions look to the sky for event that will not be repeated until the end of the century

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Millions of Britons took a once-in-a-generation opportunity to view the best solar eclipse in decades as the moon obscured more than 90 per cent of the sun.

Crowds of skywatchers descended on viewing spots, including the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, and Calton Hill, Edinburgh, to witness the rare phenomenon that will not be seen again until the end of this century.

People uttered gasps of “wow”, “oh my god” and “this is so cool” as they saw the moon blot out much of the sun and the world grew darker.

One couple even scheduled their wedding a year in advance to coincide with the event.

An eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring its light and producing a stunning ring of what looks like fire around the lunar surface.

Wednesday evening’s event was the most the sun had been blocked over the UK since the total eclipse in 1999.

People used eclipse glasses, colanders or viewers made from cereal boxes to avoid eye damage from looking directly at the sun.

Shops, national parks and the Royal Greenwich Observatory all sold out of the special glasses.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory sold 15,000 pairs of eclipse glasses a month.

John Lewis said colander sales had risen nearly 40 per cent in a year. Nasa recommended colanders as a way to watch the eclipse by viewing the shadows it casts on the ground.

After the 1999 total solar eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported around 70 cases of people having sight problems after looking at the sun as the moon moved.

Veronica Orozco, who popped a champagne cork as she watched with her neighbours in Greenwich Park, said it was a magical moment. “I am sitting here with my neighbours and we have been telling each other ‘Happy Eclipse Day’,” she said.

Britain’s electricity grid operator cancelled its call to the industry to generate more power during Wednesday evening’s solar eclipse.

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