Solar eclipse 2021 - as it happened: ‘Ring of fire’ appears in UK and US skies

Watch live as ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse appears in skies around the world

The world has been treated to an annular solar eclipse, or the “ring of fire”.

The Moon moved in front of the Sun and blocked out most of its light, leaving only a blazing circle around it.

It was visible in some form across the east coast of the US, most of Europe including the UK and Ireland, and northern Asia. Not everyone got the full celestial sight – in those places it will be partial, and the Sun will appear as a crescent in the sky – but lots of people will were able to see some of it.

It began at before sunrise on the east coast of the US, and so wasalready be happening when the sun comes up in the sky. In the UK, the maximum eclipse happened just before noon.

As ever, the most important warning was never to look at it directly: without equipment such as eclipse glasses, the light could do substantial and permanent damage to your eyes.

Key points

• What is a partial annular solar eclipse?
• How ‘partial’ will the eclipse be?
• What is the best way to see it?
• Watch the eclipse live on video
• When is the next solar eclipse?

[10 June 2021 12:09 · Andrew Griffin]

Eclipse comes to an end in the UK

As 12.12 UK time approaches, so does the end of the eclipse; that will be the time the Sun fully escapes the shadow of the Moon in Penzance.

It will end later the further up and east you are: in Inverness, it doesn’t finish until 12.35.

But, wherever you are, we’re now moving back towards regularly scheduled sunlight.

[10 June 2021 12:16 · Andrew Griffin]

Total eclipse of the notifications

[10 June 2021 12:25 · Andrew Griffin]

When is the next solar eclipse?

If you missed this one, or just loved it so much you’re excited for another look, here’s everything you need to know about when the next solar eclipse is coming.

[10 June 2021 12:45 · Andrew Griffin]

Eclipse ends in the UK

That’s that. The eclipse is over, and there’s no more to see.

Scroll down for images and the live video as it happened – and you can start looking forward to the next one.

[10 June 2021 12:49 · Andrew Griffin]

Images show red crescent lighting up the sky

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(NASA via Getty Images)

(NASA via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)