Tilt at totality as world seeks a glimpse of eclipse
NEARLY a decade ago I stood on a rocky outcrop in the Faroe Islands surrounded by tourists, all staring at the sky.
We were there to watch darkness fall. A total solar eclipse was due and the Atlantic archipelago was deemed the best place to witness it.
Reporting on the eclipse for this newspaper introduced me to a whole sub-culture of enthusiasts called “eclipse chasers” who would travel the world every few years to experience the celestial thrill of “totality”.
When it came, however, it was a bit of a damp squib. Cloud obscured the precious moment of the moon enveloping the sun. My photographer was furious. Turns out we could have had a better view in Cornwall.
Next week marks another tilt at totality. Tomorrow there will be a total solar eclipse over Mexico, the US and Canada.
There are three types of eclipse, total, partial and annular (when the moon obscures the middle of the sun but its edges are still visible).
Every year has between two to five solar eclipses; a total eclipse occurs somewhere around every 18 months.
The last time a full solar eclipse was visible from the UK was 1999; the next is due in 2090.
Tomorrow’s late eclipse timing (around 7.55pm) means only those in Scotland, Wales and the South West might see a few minutes of partial eclipse if the weather plays ball.
This weekend will be warm and windy with Storm Kathleen barrelling in. By tomorrow further bands of low pressure are due to bring more rain.
Experiencing totality sometime would be nice, of course. But right now a few dry days sound even better.