Stargazers in Dorset were treated to a partial eclipse last night.
While a total solar eclipse brought America to a standstill yesterday, making it the most watched in history, the spectacle was still partially visible in parts of the UK.
It was the first total solar eclipse to cross the US from coast to coast in 99 years, and the first to pass through any part of the lower 48 states in 38 years.
Totality, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon, lasted for around two minutes in each location along the narrow corridor stretching across the US heartland to Charleston, South Carolina.
The eclipse started shortly after 7.40pm on Monday night in the UK, and reached its maximum at about 8.05pm.
Although not a total eclipse in the UK, a lucky few may have seen a partial eclipse like this from Weymouth in Dorset #SolarEclipse2017 pic.twitter.com/5pPQ5clyMK
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 21, 2017
Stargazers in the South-West, Wales and Shetland had the best chance of seeing the eclipse in the UK.
Mark Gaston, who captured the partial eclipse on the outskirts of Lytchett Matravers, said: "A small break in the cloud just enabled me to grab this image right on sunset."
The next partial eclipse across Britain won't happen until June 2021 and a total eclipse visible in the UK won't happen until September, 2090.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel