Solar eclipse sweeps across Europe

A dramatic solar eclipse sweeps across Europe and skims parts of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia, delighting sky watchers across the region.

The town of Torshaven in the Faroe Islands plunged into darkness as a total solar eclipse passes overhead.

Timelapse video shows the dramatic impact of the region’s first such eclipse in 60 years, the moon blocking out the sun entirely for about two and half minutes.

Hotels across Europe have been sold out for years to fans of the rare phenomenon.

The moon’s shadow sped eastwards, to the delight of residents in Madrid, as well as millions of of sky gazers in Europe, Africa, and Asia who got a glimpse of the partial celestial show.

 “I heard on the news that it was going to be this morning, so here I am, I’ve come for a walk in Madrid and I hope that we get to see it. I hope it’s a good eclipse.”, a tourist said.

A Spanish tourist says, “I live nearby and since I was young I’ve always come to the planetarium. When they told me there was going to be an eclipse I quickly put my name down for it.”

The last major eclipse in Europe was in 1999. This time around, the event curbed solar power production in Europe, but also lit up Twitter with excitement from across the region.

Reuters