Solar eclipse 2025: Extraordinary phenomenon seen in the UK skies as revellers watch Sun being obscured
A PARTIAL eclipse graced the UK skies with nearly half of the Sun disappearing for two hours today.
Onlookers, equipped with protective eyewear and homemade tools, gathered outside to witness the amazing phenomenon at 10.07am.
Most of the Sun disappeared at 11am but the eclipse only lasted until 12.14pm.
The extraordinary event only happens once every 18 months and the next one is expected in August 2026.
Epic pictures of the event have emerged showing the Moon take a "bite" out of the Sun.
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Till next year
Thank you for tuning into our live blog this morning.
That's it for today but the eclipse will be back next year.
Credit: LNP Missed the eclipse?
If you missed the partial solar eclipse this morning, you can have another chance in 18 months.
The next partial eclipse in the UK is expected to happen in August 2026 with 90% obscurity.
This year's eclipse saw 30 to 40 per cent of the Sun blocked by the Moon.
The celestial event lasted for two hours between 10am and midday.
Solar Eclipse myths
Before the scientific explanation of the solar eclipse became widespread, many cultures had their own interpretation of the phenomenon.
Watch the video below to learn about the different myths surrounding the eclipse.
Eclipsing Reason: The Myths and Realities of Solar Eclipses
The view from Wales
Onlookers from Wales shared images of the eclipse at its peak.
The Sun was covered for 38.3% at 11.02am.
Cloudy view
In some parts of the UK, the cloudy weather made it trickier to spot the eclipse.
However, some onlookers still managed to catch a glimpse of the celestial event.
Revellers enjoy the weather during the eclipse
Luckily for skywatchers, the skies were clear in most of the cities this morning.
Revellers enjoyed the Sun as they watched on the celestial event.
Ostrava, Czech RepublicCredit: Getty 
Halifax, CanadaCredit: Rex 
Ronda, south of SpainCredit: AFP 
Ericeira, outside Lisbon, PortugalCredit: AP 
Greenwich Park, LondonCredit: Alamy Telescopic view
Hobby astronomers across the Northern Hemisphere brought out their solar telescopes to witness the eclipse.
Burgos, north of SpainCredit: AFP 
Brandenburg, FrankfurtCredit: Pacific Coast News 
Brandenburg, FrankfurtCredit: Pacific Coast News 
OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLICCredit: Getty All the ways to view the eclipse
The best way to watch the eclipse is through the special eyewear.
However, some people got creative in the absence of glasses and used kitchen colander or DIY pinhole projector.
People watch a partial solar eclipse through a protective screen from the hill of Burgosâ castle, in Burgos, north of SpainCredit: AFP 
Visitors to Experimenta Heilbronn view a partial solar eclipse through special solar eclipse glassesCredit: Pacific Coast News 
An astronomer views a pinhole projector to watch a partial solar eclipse, at Greenwich Observatory in London, BritainCredit: EPA 
A couple atop Primrose Hill, with a homemade viewing deviceCredit: Alamy The amazing timelapse of the eclipse
One of the skywatchers captured the fascinating phenomenon on timelapse.
You can see the two hours condensed into a few seconds in the video below.
Extraordinary phenomenon seen in the UK skies
The view of the eclipse from the Netherlands
The more, the merrier
The eclipse might be over but more pictures are coming through of the epic phenomenon.
Burgos, north of SpainCredit: AFP 
The partial solar eclipse over St. Michaelâs Tower on Glastonbury Tor in SomersetCredit: Mike Jefferies/pictureexclusive.com 
Guests at Londonâs Lucky Cat 22 Bishopsgate view the partial solar eclipse over the capitalCredit: PA 
The partial solar eclipse as viewed from LondonCredit: PA Perfect Mother's Day gift
Priyanka Prasher, one of the onlookers gathered outside the Greenwich observatory, told BBC the eclipse was perfect to mark the Mother's Day.
She said: "It's bringing good vibes... and it's a nice symbol of saying hello to spring.
"My mum is visiting so I thought it would be a really nice experience to mark the occasion with the solar eclipse just before Mother's Day."
IN PICTURES: Observers around the world
The celestial event captivated observers all across the Northern Hemisphere.
Observers watch a partial solar eclipse using homemade filters placed on a binoculars and a mobile phone at a park in Ronda, SpainCredit: Reuters 
A woman wearing solar eclipse glasses watches a partial sun eclipse at Ericeira, PortugalCredit: AFP 
Visitors to the Sonnenborgh observatory watch a partial solar eclipse through special glasses in Utrecht, NetherlandsCredit: AFP France saw 23% of the Sun blocked
The timeline of the eclipse
The eclipse began at 10.07am in the UK and reached its peak around 11am before finishing at 12.14pm.
Gallan Head in Northwest Scotland has the most of the Sun "eaten" by the Moon with 47.9%.
Manchester saw 36.1% of the Sun disappear while Dover had the least amount of the Sun covered with only 28.1%.
Credit: Alamy
IN PICTURES: the eclipse around the world
Partial Solar Eclipse, Brooklyn, New York, USACredit: Rex 
A view of a partial solar eclipse in Heilbronn, GermanyCredit: AP 
A partial solar eclipse seen from Angra do Heroismo on Terceira Island, Azores, PortugalCredit: EPA 
A partial solar eclipse in Nuuk, GreenlandCredit: Getty Observers gathered at Greenwich
Crowds of onlookers gathered near the Greenwich Observatory this morning to catch the glimpse of the eclipse.
They made sure to protect their eyes with the special eclipse glasses.
Credit: Alamy 
Credit: Alamy 
Credit: Alamy The eclipse comes to an end
The solar eclipse has finished at midday in the UK.
The Sun was temporarily blocked by the Moon but it is fully visible in all its glory now.
If you've missed the phenomenon, you can still see the epic pictures from the onlookers.
The most epic pictures of the eclipse
Partial solar eclipse, seen with the Greenwich Observatory ship weathervane as it reaches its maximumCredit: Alamy 
The statue of Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary Hans Egede is silhouetted during a partial solar eclipse in Nuuk, GreenlandCredit: Getty 
The partial eclipse in Ely,Cambridgeshire over the spire at St Mary's ChurchCredit: Bav Media 
A partial solar eclipse behind the Liver Bird statue on the top of The Royal Liver Building, LiverpoolCredit: AFP Minutes till the end
We're only minutes away from the extraordinary phenomenon coming to its end.
The next partial solar eclipse won't happen for another 18 months.
And the total eclipse isn't expected in the UK until 2090.
View from North Yorkshire
More onlookers from across the UK have been sharing epic pictures of the eclipse.
The eclipse is almost over
Almost half of the Sun was covered by the Moon's shadow but it is opening up now.
Colander trick
Some onlookers had to be creative to observe the eclipse safely.
The kitchen colander hack has proved useful for the skywatcher in Kent.
Onlookers gather outside to catch a glimpse of the eclipse
Skywatchers have gathered at Primrose Hill in London to witness the partial solar eclipse.
The observers were equipped with the eclipse eyewear to protect themselves from the sun damage.
Credit: i-Images 
Credit: i-Images 
Credit: i-Images 
Credit: i-Images The eclipse reached its peak in Sheffield
