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Stunning images show the solar eclipse as millions of people around the world gather to witness Western Europe’s first total eclipse in 27 years.
Huge groups sat under clear skies in cities and towns across Spain Wednesday, equipped with folding lawn chairs, sun umbrellas and hats, eagerly waiting for the celestial spectacle.
Vast crowds across a wide band of northern and central Spain had front-row seats for some of mainland Europe’s best viewing opportunities.
Narrow slivers of Iceland and Greenland were also positioned to observe the sun, moon, and Earth align, briefly casting portions of the planet into darkness.
A view of the total eclipse as seen from a cruise ship off the coast of Greenland (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
The total eclipse seen from Iceland (Sky News)
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain (Reuters)
When the big moment finally arrived in Iceland, daylight turned to complete darkness across its westernmost coastline. After worries over bad weather, the clouds briefly cleared, allowing residents and tourists to catch sight of the rare astronomical event.
“I was watching live from Reykjavik and, despite the overcast sky, a cheer went up from the crowd gathered in front of Hallgrimskirkja church when everything went black above them,” a witness told Reuters.
The period of totality — when the moon completely covers the sun’s light — was projected to last under 2 1/2 minutes, peaking off the western coast of Iceland.
In Spain, officials cautioned crowds to avoid areas affected by a heatwave, which has heightened the threat of wildfires.
The sun emerging from the side of the moon after the total eclipse in Iceland (Sky News)
The sun emerging from the side of the moon after the total eclipse in Iceland (Sky News)
The solar eclipse, before totality, at the Galactica Centre near Teruel, Spain (Reuters)
Juan Cruz, Spain’s Secretary of State for Science, stated that officials expected as many as 6 million people to visit rural zones along the path of the eclipse in northern Spain and the Balearic Islands.
“I hope that tonight will see the emergence of a wonderful generation of astrophysicists,” he said. “It’s such a special moment.”
The celestial spectacle will be quickly followed by the sunset in Spain, giving the event an added appeal.
The celestial event happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring its light. That produces a stunning ring of fire around the lunar surface, as well as eerie events such as the day dramatically dimming and confused birds singing.
The Iberian Peninsula last saw a total solar eclipse in 1912 and it is set to experience another on August 2, 2027, and an annular eclipse in January 2028, completing the so-called “Iberian Eclipse Trio.”
U.S. space agency NASA plans to fly a high-altitude WB-57 aircraft from Iceland to follow the Moon’s shadow, and NASA-funded teams will launch balloons to study how the sudden darkness and cooling affect the lower atmosphere.
The sun’s corona glows as the moon completely blocks the sun during the totality phase of the total solar eclipse as seen from Arenal beach in Llucmajor, on the Balearic island of Mallorca (AFP/Getty)
The solar eclipse seen from King’s Stairs Gardens in Bermondsey, south London (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The solar eclipse as seen from Suffolk (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The sun over Canary Wharf, London during the solar eclipse (Ian West/PA Wire)
The solar eclipse as seen from Perry Barr’s Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
In Weymouth, Dorset, England (The Independent).jpg)
The partial eclipse seen from Observatorielunden park in central Stockholm, Sweden (TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Ima)
A few of the moon partially covering the sun during a solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain (REUTERS)
The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun 6.38pm at the start of the solar eclipse as seen from King’s Stairs Gardens in Bermondsey, south London (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The solar eclipse seen from Berlin, Germany (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Cruise passengers take in the total eclipse from a cruise ship off the coast of Greenland (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)