Nature's greatest sight - a total eclipse of the Sun - visits Europe and the North Atlantic on the 20th of March. This eclipse is special because it occurs on the Spring Equinox and ends at the North Pole just as the Sun returns for its six month stay. Will anyone be at the Pole to see a total eclipse on the horizon after a half year of night?
While the total eclipse just misses most of Europe, all the region will enjoy the sight of a partial solar eclipse. Rome will see 62% of the Sun's disk covered by the Moon. Vienna sees 70%, Paris 82%, and Londoners will experience a pronounced darkening at 87%. Scotland, Ireland, Norway, and Iceland get the deepest partial solar eclipse.
The total solar eclipse races across the North Atlantic in an hour and ten minutes, just missing Iceland. The only two landfalls for totality are the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, an Arctic island archipelago of Norway. The eclipse ends at sunset at the North Pole.
Here is another view of the eclipse from the perspective of the Moon. While the Earth rotates underneath, the Moon's shadow flies between the United Kingdom and Iceland and passes close to Norway. The lucky residents of the Faroes and Svalbard will see the sight of a lifetime!
A partial solar eclipse is a beautiful sight but you must have approved eclipse viewing glasses. Visit our online store, greatamericaneclipse.com/store for a discounted package of 10 eclipse glasses and two maps.
Learn more about this eclipse and the 2017 solar eclipse in the USA at GreatAmericanEclipse.com
Animation and eclipse maps by Michael Zeiler
Narration by Polly White
Eclipse calculations by Xavier Jubier, xjubier.free.fr
Eclipse predictions by Fred Espenak, eclipsewise.com
Music is Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - III Anitra's Dream composed by Edvard Grieg (music recording is free of copyright)
