Sky-watchers were out in force yesterday for the chance to glimpse a rare solar eclipse.For over an hour a bite appeared to be taken out of the sun as its rays were obscured by the moon.The partial eclipse was visible from the whole of the UK and Ireland. Depending on where it was viewed, between a 10th and a third of the sun was blotted out.
In other parts of the world, including Canada, Greenland, Russia and China, the sun was completely hidden by a total eclipse.
Members of the Society for Popular Astronomy equipped with telescopes gathered in London's Hyde Park to witness the event.Telescopes for members of the public to use were also set up at the Greenwich Observatory in London, the National Space Centre in Leicester, and at locations in the Irish Republic. (Daily Mail 2nd August 2008)
