The last time we witnessed the moon completely covering the disk of the sun was back in November 3, 2013. The rare phenomenon known as the solar eclipse will return on Friday, March 20.
The March 20 total solar eclipse event can be best seen over the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. The northeastern path (counterclockwise) of the moon will trace the sun beginning from the southern tip of Greenland and pass Iceland and the UK.
The point of greatest eclipse will occur in the Norwegian Sea, just 162 miles north of the Danish Faroe Islands. The eclipse is estimated to cast an elliptical shadow of the moon that measures 288 miles wide and 93 miles long. The Faroes consist of 18 main islands that combine to make 540 square miles. However, only about 50,000 people call this rocky island home. After passing across the Faroe Islands, the solar eclipse will make its final landfall at Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean before the moons trajectory diverts away from the sun.
According to astronomers, the remarkable celestial shadow can be seen starting Friday, March 20, at 0800 GMT (4 a.m. EDT). For space enthusiasts that will not be able to see the point of greatest eclipse over the Faroes Islands (that makes everyone except for its 50,000 inhabitants), the solar eclipse will be available via live streaming online.
Watch the solar eclipse live stream on the total solar eclipse webcast on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh Community Observatory. The Virtual Telescope Project will also air live views of the eclipse through its official website.
Finally, Select regions of Africa and Asia can also witness a total solar eclipse as well. Be sure to visit this page to study the complete schedule table for the Mar. 20 solar eclipse over all European cities as well as the Atlantic, Asia, and Africa.
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