Solar eclipse: When and where will the best view be across the world? Not in India

ONE of the most notable and rare celestial events will take place today, Wednesday, as the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, producing a total solar eclipse visible across the world. Regions in Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and more will be able to witness this phenomenon.

Solar eclipse in UK

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK, beginning at around 6pm BST as the Moon starts moving across the face of the Sun, reported the BBC.

The solar eclipse is expected to reach its peak between 7:02pm and 7:16pm BST, depending on the location.

From London, around 90% of the Sun is expected to be covered, while Cornwall could see as much as 95% of the Sun obscured.

The eclipse will also be visible from parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Wales. However, visibility will be subject to weather conditions in the region. Cloud cover may develop across parts of north Wales, northern England and Scotland between 6 pm and 7 pm BST, as per the report.

On the other hand, Western Scotland and parts of northern and western Northern Ireland may also witness cloud and rain during the eclipse timing.

Iceland

Besides UK, the eclipse will be visible from Iceland, where cloud and rain is also expected, particularly in the south.

Spain, Portugal

The solar eclipse is said to be seen considerably better in Spain and Portugal, where clear skies are expected to offer almost perfect viewing conditions.

As the sun will be very low in the western sky during the eclipse, observers are advised to find a location with a clear, unobstructed view towards the west, preferably away from buildings and trees, noted the same report.

Most notable places to watch solar eclipse in Europe

The solar eclipse is expected to be particularly notable for observers in Europe, particularly in the UK, where it will be one of the closest experiences to a total solar eclipse for a limited time.

Overall, Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwestern Africa will be able to see a partial eclipse.

What about India?

However, regions like India won't be able to witness the event as the path does not reach the location.

Totality will begin near the North Pole before moving south across Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small part of Portugal. The period of daytime darkness will last only a few minutes at most, considerably shorter than the 2024 total solar eclipse across North America.

However, it is the first total solar eclipse in continental Europe since 1999.

Meanwhile, Spain is set to experience another, longer period of totality next August, with the path also extending across parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

In the US, the 2017 total solar eclipse triggered widespread interest after a path of totality crossed the country from Oregon to South Carolina.

The 2024 eclipse nearly doubled the duration of totality, stretching from Mexico's Pacific coast to Newfoundland.

The next coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the US is not expected until 2045.