Brits cross to the dark side for total eclipse
MOST of us dream of chasing the sun but a dedicated band of Brits have flown thousands of miles to watch it vanish in a total eclipse today.
The cosmic trippers are in North America and Mexico for the rare phenomenon – knowing there won’t be one on our own shores for 66 years.
Today’s total eclipse will last two hours, starting in Mazatlan, Mexico, on the Pacific coast.
The eerie shadow then sweeps in a north-easterly arc over Texas, throwing states including Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire into darkness. It crosses into Canada, ending in Newfoundland.
The total eclipse as the Moon moves between the Earth and Sun last happened in Britain in 1999 and won’t happen here again until 2090.
The next one in the States is 2044 but will only be fully visible from three states. So British eclipse watchers aren’t taking any chances and bookings for prime viewing spots soared 164% in a week, according to On the Beach.
Ticket sales for Mexico also climbed by 43%.
The travel firm’s Zoe Harris, said: “Unfortunately, the UK won’t witness a total solar eclipse until 2090, so it’s no surprise to see thousands of eclipse watchers have jumped on to a package holiday to the USA and Mexico to witness the incredibly rare event. Brits are taking the opportunity to see the once-in-a-lifetime event and it’s a great excuse for a long-haul holiday.”
Stay-at-homers may just catch a glimpse of the eclipse – but it will appear more as the Moon nibbling the Sun than total blackout.
Places west of a line drawn from Fowey, Cornwall, to Berwick, Northumberland, might catch it just before sunset if the weather is clear.