Did you see the solar eclipse? A weird-looking partial eclipse of the Sun for many in North America and Europe—and a rare “ring of light” for some in Canada, Greenland and Siberia—proved a dramatic spectacle that was expertly captured by photographers around the world.
With the Moon looking like the “Death Star” taking a bite out of the Sun, it was surely the highlight of the summer for stargazers.
Here are the best eclipse photos for your enjoyment along with a rundown of exactly what happened, where, and when is the next eclipse:
The highlight of the event came from photographers positioned within a “path of annularity” up to 327 miles wide stretching from Canada to Siberia in Russia, from where it was possible to se an “annular” or ring-shaped solar eclipse.
It was visible at sunrise just north of Lake Superior in Canada and at sunset close to Seymchan in Siberia. From this path about 89% of the Sun was blocked for a maximum of 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
Between those two extremes the “ring of light” crossed northern Greenland and also the North Pole. In doing so it became the only solar eclipse in the 21st century to do so. It was therefore a solar eclipse whose shadow across Earth first traveled north across Baffin Island in Canada and Qaanaaq in Greenland, then south into Siberia.
Travel restrictions meant it was virtually impossible for many to travel to see the rare “ring of light,” though there was some consolation for those in northeast U.S. states from where it was possible to see a rare “crescent sunrise” that was around 70-75% eclipsed.
Although observers using solar eclipse glasses had to find themselves positions that offered clear views of the eastern horizon, it was possible from a line going from the northeast corner of North Dakota southeast to to the South Carolina-Georgia border to see at least some of the phenomenon.
Northeast of that line a partially eclipsed Sun was viewed slightly higher in the sky. Early-risers lined the beaches of the Atlantic coast from South Carolina to Maine to try for a glimpse of an eclipse sunrise or even a “crescent sunrise.”
A great view was had from Hampton Beach, New Hampshire and streamed live on YouTube by the Solar Eclipse Task Force. NASA Video also streamed some incredible images of the crescent sunrise in the U.S. as did TimeAndDate.com from Sudbury, Canada.
Those in New Jersey and New York arguably had an even stranger sight. In the moment that Sun rose, eclipsed, on the horizon it was possible to see two limbs of the Sun—the so-called “red devil horned” eclipse—poking above the horizon.
The Empire State Building in Manhattan held an exclusive eclipse-viewing event for 25 socially distanced guests on its observation deck on the 86th floor.
Elsewhere in the world it was possible to see far smaller partial solar eclipse later in the day, local time.
In Reykjavik, Iceland a 60% eclipse was observed and in Tromso, Norway 50%, while in London, England 20% of the Sun was covered in mid-morning. Paris and Berlin both saw a 13% eclipse, Amsterdam 18%, Brussels 15% and Madrid 5%, with the limit crossing the Mediterranean south of Spain but north of Rome, Italy.
Moscow saw a 15% partial solar eclipse, with obscuration increasingly the further west towards Siberia, where the “ring of light” was viewable. Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northwestern China also saw small partial solar eclipses.
An annular solar eclipse is caused by an apogee New Moon, which is when the Moon is at its furthest from Earth on its monthly orbit. Since it was at its smallest possible, the New Moon on June 10, 2021 didn’t completely cover the Sun, with the Moon’s cone-like shadow not quite reaching the Earth’s surface.
That’s quite unlike a total solar eclipse, where those standing in a miles-wide ‘path of totality’ experience the entirety of the Sun blocked by the New Moon and watch naked-eye from within its deep umbral shadow for a few minutes
By coincidence the Sun was also close to its smallest apparent size for the year. Our star is at aphelion on July 5, 2021, the point of the Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit that is farthest away from the Sun.
When is the next “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse? On 14 October, 2023 a ‘ring of fire’ lasting 5 minutes 17 seconds will cross the American southwest via some fabulous national parks in Orgeon, Utah Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico (such as Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands).
It will also cross Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia and Brazil.
Disclaimer: I am the Editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and the author of several eclipse travel guides.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
