The solar eclipse has started to cast its shadow across Europe as millions of people prepare to witness the rare astronomical spectacle.
Skywatchers in Newquay, Cornwall, got a clear view of first contact as the moon cut across the Sun at 8:20am, shortly after observers in Spain saw the eclipse begin.
As the spectacle began, astronomer Tom Kerss told Sky News: "You're seeing the Moon's rugged mountainous and valleyed surface starting to cut into the face of the Sun. That will just grow and cut more of the Sun away."
First contact in London was visible at 8:47am, with a large crowd of enthusiasts choosing the Royal Observatory at Greenwich as the ideal spot to watch as the Sun was partially obscured.
Members of the public and commuters who might catch sight of the eclipse on the way to work are being warned that looking directly at the Sun could seriously damage their eyesight.
Despite fears that cloud cover could ruin the event for many people, there were good views in many areas, from the South West to London, Lincolnshire and the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
Even in cloudy areas darker skies and a slight drop in temperature are being experienced during the event that will not be seen again in the UK until 2026.
It is the deepest solar eclipse shadow to fall across Britain since 1999.
Observers in the UK and Ireland will witness a near total eclipse with up to 97% of the Sun blocked out, while South Wales and the north coasts of Devon and Wales are likely to have the clearest skies.
:: Live Updates: Countdown To The Solar Eclipse
Around the country the proportion of the Sun covered by the Moon will increase towards the north, ranging from 84% in London to 89% in Manchester, 93% in Edinburgh, and 97% in Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.
Only people in the Faroe Islands and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the North Atlantic will witness a total eclipse.
:: London
The partial phase of the eclipse will commence at 8:25am. One hour and six minutes later at 9:31am the maximum eclipse will occur with 85% of the Sun blocked out. The event will end at 10:41am.
:: Manchester
Viewers in the northwest will see 90% of the Sun obscured. The event begins at 8:27am, will reach maximum coverage at 9:32am, and will last two hours and fifteen minutes, finishing at 10.42am.
:: Belfast
The event begins a minute later than London at 8:26am and will last two hours and 13 minutes, ending at 10.39am. The eclipse reaches maximum coverage at 9.31am when 95% of the Sun will be obscured.
:: Scotland
Further north, eclipse watchers will enjoy a slightly better show. Viewers in Edinburgh will see 93% of the Sun covered and from Lerwick in the Shetland Isles, the Moon will obscure 97% of the solar disk.
:: Aberystwyth
Viewers can watch the eclipse from 8.24am and the event will last a total of two hours and 14 minutes. The event will reach maximum at 9.29am when 90% of the Sun will be obscured.
Despite the excitement, Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, warned the event could become memorable for the wrong reasons if observers failed to heed warnings of the dangers.
"This one takes place right in the middle of the rush-hour," he said. "It's not the best time from a safety point of view.
"A partial eclipse is more risky by far than a total eclipse because people don't realise that even looking at a thin sliver of sun is dangerous. It's absolutely true that there is a serious risk to people's eyesight.
"If people can't find a way to view the eclipse correctly then they shouldn't look because they're likely to damage their eyes."
A tourist visiting Norway for the eclipse has described the terrifying moment a polar bear dragged him out of his tent as he slept.
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