The best pictures of this once-in-a-generation solar eclipse ...Middle East

The solar eclipse reached its maximum point across the UK on Wednesday evening, with huge crowds gathering to see the rare astronomical event.

Most of the UK saw more than 90 per cent of the Sun covered by the Moon in the fullest solar eclipse in the country since 1999.

Millions were thrust into an eerie shadowy darkness just after 7pm as the partial eclipse reached its peak.

Here is a collection of some of the best pictures from the night, in the UK and around the world:

Crowds of spectators gathered at high points all over the country, including at Greenwich and Parliament Hill in London, as well as Calton Hill in Edinburgh and Falmouth in Cornwall.

For many young people, it was their first chance to see such a full eclipse, while for others it brought back memories of August 1999.

In Parliament Hill, Nicole Mwananshiku, 26 told The i Paper: “I think it’s amazing that everyone’s come together on top of a hill and something we can all enjoy for free in London.

“The last one happened just at the same time when I was born so it’s quite cool that it’s 27 years on.”

On Wednesday, frenzied shoppers were desperate to get their hands on a pair of eclipse-safe glasses. Huge queues mounted around the block at the few shops which had stock left.

Shop fronts were plastered with signs to indicate they were sold out of the specs, while spectators roamed viewing points looking for any spare pair available.

Smashing sporting events

The eclipse coincided with a number of sporting events, with swathes of stadium crowds seen turning their attention from the pitch to the sky.

At Edgbaston in Birmingham The Hundred match was overshadowed by spectators putting on their shaded eclipse glasses.

And at the City Ground in Nottingham, Forest fans paired their bright red shirts with fiery shades to view the rare astronomical event.

Matches ground to a halt as the eclipse cast a deep shadow over proceedings.

Meanwhile, at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, spectators took to the solar eclipse viewing with as much gusto as they had the track events earlier in the day.

Many members of the crowd were seen sporting eclipse glasses, with sunshine reaching inside the stadium into the evening.

The eclipse wasn’t all that the British fans had to cheer for – Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith also won a gold medal in the 400m dash with a time of 44.17 seconds.

Interesting headgear choices

What with the glasses shortages, some people had to find innovative solutions to try and view the eclipse safely.

One couple of stewards at Croke Park in Dublin dug out some welders masks from somewhere, throwing back to one of the popular viewing methods back in 1999.

Others had the eclipse-safe glasses on alongside other jazzy headgear, most fittingly themed around the astronomical and celestial.

Some in Spain had hand-crafted elaborate reflective silver and gold headpieces, while others had superhero-like masks around their safety-first goggles.

In Iceland, the conditions were not so clear – not ideal for viewing the eclipse.

People did still turn out for the event, though, with one spectator, Margaret Nelson, donning a striking mirrored mask.

It did not appear to have many safety features, but given the cloud cover this was unlikely to have been an issue.

Spectacular total eclipse in Spain

Some spectacular pictures were taken in Spain, which saw a rare total solar eclipse, so merely the Sun’s corona was left visible on the fringes of the dark Moon.

It got even darker there than it did in the UK, despite burning golden sunshine just minutes before the eclipse began.

Many tourists had flooded to ideal viewpoints in Spain to best view the eclipse, with demand for hotel rooms along the path of totality soaring in recent weeks.

Graham Keeley, a freelance reporter for The i Paper in Spain, viewed the event from the rooftop of his apartment building.

He wrote of the moment of totality: “A cheer went up, then everyone in the streets started to clap. For a few fleeting seconds, the Sun disappeared totally behind the Moon. 

“Before that, we had been watching behind solar eclipse glasses and counting down as the image of the Sun slowly disappeared.

“Wow it was worth the wait and the hype.”

Elsewhere in the world

Spain was not the only place to see a total solar eclipse on Wednesday evening. Greenland was actually the first place where the Sun reached on its path of totality, while Iceland also saw a total eclipse (albeit a cloudier one).

Passengers aboard the Ambition cruise ship off the coast of Greenland were treated to bright clear skies and what looked like a chilly afternoon for a fabulous view of the eclipse.

Meanwhile, many parts of Europe saw a partial solar eclipse similar to that in the UK.

The eclipse made a staggered tour of European landmarks, including Prague Castle and the Eiffel Tower, delighting crowds of tourists and locals alike around the continent.

Crowds were seen in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and more to enjoy the once-in-a-generation astronomical event.

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