SUN-SATIONAL!
Epic partial solar eclipse 2025 pictures emerge as nearly half the Sun goes dark in rare phenomenon across the UK
Scroll down to find out what time you can see the solar eclipse
EPIC photos have captured the partial solar eclipse, with almost half the Sun going dark.
The celestial wonder began at 10.07am today and was visible for around two hours.
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Follow The Sun's live blog on the eclipse here.
Observers gathered at viewing points across the UK, including at Primrose Hill and Greenwich Observatory in London, with many using special glasses and homemade viewing devices.
Elsewhere in the world, Alice Tuohy, age 5, was among those snapped at Astronomy Ireland in Blanchardstown.
A partial eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth - but the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned.
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This means that only part of the Sun is hidden by the moon.
In the south of England it peaked at around 11.03am.
As much as 40% of the sun was covered by the Moon's shadow in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Whereas roughly 30% of the Sun was covered in London and the southeast of the UK.
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The UK had one of the best views on the continent.
"The only country in Europe with a better view [than the UK] will be Iceland with a magnitude of 0.74 which is about 68% coverage of the sun," said Dr Greg Brown, Senior Public Astronomy Officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
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Onlookers were advised to wear proper eye protection when observing the solar eclipse, to avoid permanent damage to their vision.
However, some people's viewing plans have been scuppered by cloud and rain.
On a clear day, those in northern parts of Scotland would enjoy the best view of the eclipse.
Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “There’s patchy cloud around on Saturday in the south.
“The north west of Scotland, which has the best window for seeing the partial solar eclipse, is unfortunately going to see rain and cloudy skies.
“However, those further south in England on Saturday should see some break in the cloud.”
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How to watch a solar eclipse safely
Here's the official advice from the American Astronomical Society...
Looking directly at the Sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the Moon entirely blocks the Sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers.
Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.
Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
Always supervise children using solar filters.
If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
Similarly, do not look at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.
Image credit: Getty
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