Solar eclipse 2021 LIVE: Ring of fire visible in UK and US as millions around world try to catch a glimpse
- How to watch the solar eclipse safely
- What is a solar eclipse?
- Solar eclipse conspiracy and doomsday theories
- What is the ring of fire?
NEARLY one-third of the sun was blocked out by the moon in a partial solar eclipse.
Some parts of the northern hemisphere experienced a total eclipse, and some countries faced a near blackout overhead.
The phenomenon - also known as the ring of fire - is an annular solar eclipse that takes place every year in different areas of the world.
And those in the UK and US were lucky enough to catch it.
A partial eclipse dawned over the UK from around 11.13 am BST while it was visible across the northern parts of North America at various different times.
Follow for all the latest news and updates on the solar eclipse...
IN PICTURES: MORNING ECLIPSE OVER CANADA
Credit: TimeandDate HOW OFTEN DOES THE "RING OF FIRE" OCCUR?
An annular eclipse — commonly known as a "ring of fire" — happens when the moon is close to its farthest distance from Earth.
During an annular eclipse, the moon is far enough away from the Earth and appears smaller than the sun in the sky.
According to Time and Date, there are between every year.
However, take place every five to six months, Britannica explains.
IN PICTURES: PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH
Credit: AP
WHO HAD THE BEST VIEW OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE?
Spectators in northern Canada, Greenland and Scandinavia were in the best location to view the annual event.
According to SPACE.com, the view from those areas showed the moon to block (without fully covering) the sun — causing a
When the moon passes in front of the sun it leaves a circular, orangey-red ring-like border — known as the "ring of fire."
IN PICTURES: ECLIPSE OVER NEW YORK CITY IN THE MORNING
Credit: Getty IN PICTURES: PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ABOVE LONDON
Credit: Alamy CAN LOOKING AT THE SOLAR ECLIPSE BE DANGEROUS?
Stargazers in some parts of the world were able to watch the solar eclipse on Thursday morning and the event has many wondering whether the event has damaged their eyes.
Most people are aware that looking directly at or permanent damage to their eyes — and looking at a solar eclipse is no different.
If you notice any changes in vision that continue to get worse after looking at a solar eclipse, you should contact an eye care professional.
When proper eye protection isn't used during a solar eclipse, people can experience “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy.
HOW DOES THE SOLAR ECLIPSE AFFECT THE ZODIAC?
The ring of fire solar eclipse on June 10 was not only seen across some northern parts of the globe but its effects will be felt throughout all signs of the zodiac.
The event marks a powerful time for new beginnings for all 12 zodiac signs.
To learn how your star sign will feel the effects of the astronomical event: .
WHEN DID THE SOLAR ECLIPSE APPEAR?
Viewers in the UK and US began to experience the eclipse this morning and some US states witnessed the event before sunrise.
The eclipse started shortly after 10am in the UK but the peak was at 11.13am - when the Moon covered nearly one-third of the Sun.
The partial eclipse ended at 12.22pm in the UK.
The website streamed the event.
IN PICTURES: ECLIPSE OVER U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING
Credit: EPA MAPPED: WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO SEE THE ECLIPSE?
IN PICTURES: OBSERVERING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE
ECLIPSE ‘WON’T LOOK LIKE REGULAR SUN’
“It is not going to look like your regular sun,” Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, told Space.com.
“This one’s kind of cool,” Faherty said, “because the way the shadow of the moon is going to pass over the Earth, it’s going to pass over the North Pole.”
She confirms that it is rare for a solar eclipse to pass over the North Pole.
HOW TO WATCH THE SOLAR ECLIPSE ONLINE
The solar eclipse can be viewed on The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s YouTube channel, where it will be live-streamed.
The website will also be streaming the event.
It is unclear if the partial eclipse will be televised, however news bulletins are expected to run clips of it during their broadcasts.
IN PICTURES: ECLIPSE OVER DELAWARE BREAKWATER LIGHTHOUSE
HOW ANCIENT PEOPLE EXPLAINED SOLAR ECLIPSES
Lots of ancient cultures were confused by solar eclipses and thought it was the work of the gods or a beast in the sky.
In ancient western Asia, some people thought the Sun was being devoured by a dragon.
The Vikings thought two sky wolves were responsible for biting the Sun.
In China, an ancient myth suggests a total eclipse occurs when a sky dog is trying to eat the Sun.
WHAT IS THE RING OF FIRE?
The ring of fire occurs during an annular or partial solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
During an annular eclipse, the moon is far enough away from the Earth so the moon appears smaller than the sun in the sky.
As it appears to be smaller, it doesn’t completely block out the sun so when it passes in front of the sun it leaves a circular, orangey-red ring-like border to the human eye.
That effect is called an “annulus” or ring of fire around the moon.
HOW TO WATCH THE SOLAR ECLIPSE ONLINE
The solar eclipse can be viewed on The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s YouTube channel, where it will be live-streamed.
The website will also be streaming the event.
It is unclear if the partial eclipse will be televised, however news bulletins are expected to run clips of it during their broadcasts.
IN PICTURES: NORTH AMERICA (CONTINUED)
Baltimore, Maryland
A partial eclipse over the Baltimore skyline Brooklyn, New York
A partial eclipse behind the Brooklyn bridge in New York IN PICTURES: NORTH AMERICA SEES THE ECLIPSE
The view from Canada as the sun rose this morningCredit: TimeandDate 
The eclipsed sunrise over Scituate Massachusetts in the USCredit: Getty HOW OFTEN DOES THE RING OF FIRE PHENOMENON OCCUR?
There is no regular occurrence for the ring of fire display but they can happen every one or two years.
It depends when all three bodies are aligned although variations occur because the moon’s orbit around the Earth is elliptical causing the distance the moon is from the Earth to vary.
This in turn affects the type of solar eclipse seen when all three are aligned.
A ring of fire will appear today, although while Brits will be able to see the eclipse they won’t get to see the ring of fire.
People in northern Greenland, parts of nearby Baffin Bay, eastern Hudson Bay and northeastern Russia will sit in the path of the ring of fire.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOLAR ECLIPSE
An eclipse is when the moon moves into a position where it blocks all or part of the sun from view.
This eclipse is a partial one so the moon is likely to block around a third of the sun from view on Earth.
Below is some of the different types of eclipses and how they look on Earth.
IN PICTURES: THE SHARD IN LONDON
The 310m tower cast in shadow underneath the eclipsed Sun WHAT IS THE RING OF FIRE?
The ring of fire occurs during an annular or partial solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
During an annular eclipse, the moon is far enough away from the Earth so the moon appears smaller than the sun in the sky.
As it appears to be smaller, it doesn’t completely block out the sun so when it passes in front of the sun it leaves a circular, orangey-red ring-like border to the human eye.
That effect is called an “annulus” or ring of fire around the moon.
The moon moves in front of the sun in a rare 'ring of fire' solar eclipse as seen from Balut Island, Saraggani province, in the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines on December 26, 2019. Credit: AFP IN PICTURES: THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER ENGLAND
London
Partial solar eclipse begins, seen through thick patchy cloud above London CREDIT: Alamy Birmingham
The moon begins its transit across the sun to produce a partial eclipse of the sun today across the UK CREDIT: Alamy