One of nature’s greatest spectacles a rare total solar eclipse cast its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia’s remote Arctic north and western Iceland before heading towards mainland Europe.
How events unfolded
The Moon first blotted out the Sun at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia at about 1700 GMT, leaving only the shimmering glow of its outer corona.
The shadow or “umbra” cast by the alignment of Sun and Moon creates a strange, eerie twilight during which temperatures drop, shadows appear at strange angles and some animals go to sleep.
What Happens Next
The partial eclipse which occurs as the Moon starts and finishes crossing the Sun’s path, dimming its light will last around one hour and 45 minutes. The event, livestreamed by both NASA and the European Space Agency, presents scientists with a rare opportunity to study the Sun’s atmosphere and its outermost layer, as they seek to uncover secrets about solar winds and our star’s magnetic field.
Another total eclipse will cross southern Spain and northern Africa in August 2027, while an annular eclipse when the Moon is not big enough to completely blot out the Sun, creating a so-called “ring of fire” is due to visit the Iberian Peninsula in 2028.
