As it happenedended

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

Thursday 10 June 2021 14:33 BST

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

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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.