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Solar Eclipse 2017: Stunning images as eclipse sweeps across United States

AP
AP

Stunning images have emerged after a solar eclipse swept across the United States.

Millions of Americans watched in wonder through telescopes, cameras and protective glasses as the rare celestial event unfolded.

The movement of the moon between the Earth and sun turned day to night for more than two minutes at each location along a narrow corridor stretching across the country.

Tracking east over 90 minutes, the eclipse travelled across 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina, before heading out over the Atlantic.

It is the first total solar eclipse to sweep across North America from coast to coast in almost a century, and was described by The Canadian Space Agency as "Beautiful!"

It is the first total solar eclipse to sweep across the US in 99 years in (REUTERS)
It is the first total solar eclipse to sweep across the US in 99 years in (REUTERS)

Among the big names who had been excited by the spectacle were rock star Bruce Springsteen and Ivanka Trump, daughter of the US President Donald Trump, who tweeted safety advice warning watchers to remember to wear their glasses.

Southern-most Illinois had the longest period of darkness at two minutes and 44 seconds.

It is expected to be the most-observed and most-photographed eclipse in history.

Millions of Americans watched in wonder (REUTERS)
Millions of Americans watched in wonder (REUTERS)

However gloomy skies meant that Britons were less lucky in seeing a a partial solar eclipse on Monday evening.

The spectacle was originally expected to appear in the UK’s skies just before sunset, in a phenomenon lasting roughly 40 minutes.

The moon would have appeared to take a "bite" out of the sun, but overcast weather obscured this for most.

The movement of the moon between the Earth and sun produced a much more dramatic event in the US, where a total eclipse turned day to night for two minutes.

The eclipse tracked east across the US over 90 minutes (REUTERS)
The eclipse tracked east across the US over 90 minutes (REUTERS)

On British shores, south-west England and South Wales had the best chance of witnessing the moment through a break in the cloud.

Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles said earlier on Monday: "It doesn't look very promising.

"It is only going to be about 4 per cent of the sun which will be blotted out, so even if it is perfect weather conditions, you won't see a lot.

"From a meteorological point of view, it is not looking very good because of the cloud. Most people won't be able to see a thing.

"There will be some breaks in the cloud in the south-west of the country - South Wales and south-west England - there will be enough breaks that people who are looking specifically might be able to see a little chip out of the corner of the sun.

"Anywhere in the east, including London, won't see anything because it will just be clouded over; also Scotland and Northern Ireland."

For observers in Edinburgh, the peak of the eclipse was due to be at 7.58pm and for those in Cardiff at 8.05pm.

Up to five solar eclipses occur each year, but each one is visible only within a limited band across the Earth's surface where the moon's shadow happens to fall.

The Royal Astronomical Society warned anyone hoping to catch the phenomenon not to look directly at the sun.