Sky gazers applauded and cheered early this morning at the sight of a total eclipse that blocked out the sun over parts of Europe and the Arctic, the Associated Press reported.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon lines up between the sun and the Earth. It casts a lunar shadow on the Earth's surface and blocks the sun. Only part of the sun is blotted out during a partial eclipse.
The Faeroes and Svalbard islands were the only two places on land where the eclipse was total, the AP reported. About 20,000 visitors traveled to the islands to watch the spectacle that some called too short. The daylight only dimmed for about 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
A partial solar eclipse was spotted today across Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, the AP said. Cloudy weather put a damper on the viewing for large parts of the continent, making it hard to see the total eclipse. Since protective glasses are needed, a thin cloud cover allowed people in Stockholm, Sweden, to watch without them.
The last total eclipse was in November 2012 over Australia. The next one will be over Indonesia in March 2016, according to NASA. Check out these stunning images!
Neat, huh?
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