On This Day – August 11th

On August 11th 1999 up to 350 million people in Europe and Asia witnessed the last total solar eclipse of the 20th century.

The phenomenon began over the Atlantic, a few hundred miles east of Boston, North America. Hundreds of people who gathered on the Isles of Scilly were the first to witness the eclipse.

The only part of mainland Britain to witness totality – the full blacking out of the sun by the moon – was Cornwall in south-west England. Cloudy skies meant spectators there were unable to see the full effect, but the spectacle was still dramatic.

The temperature dropped and darkness fell in Falmouth at 1111 BST (1011 GMT). TV astronomer Patrick Moore, watching in Falmouth, described it as a "strange, weird experience".

After Britain the eclipse was seen throughout Europe and Asia.

Ed. The second two photos, taken on a bleeding-edge digital camera 9for the time...), show what was visible of the eclipse from London's West End.

When is the next total eclipse that will be viewable from Europe?

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