Eclipse of the sun - 20th March 2015

[ideasguy]

Approx 86% eclipse expected around 9:30 am.
Its cloudy as forecast and we don't expect to get a good sighting, unless there is a break in the cloud.
About half an hour ago there was and the sun was hazy but visible.
8:38 am and it beginning to get dark and a bit eerie out there!
Will the clouds break just that little bit to allow us a glimpse?

[ideasguy]

Its passed and ebbing away as I write.
Tara phoned mid way through the and told us to get a plain CD and look through it at the eclipse.
Perfect

Almost over - 10:11 am

[NightHawk]

A bit of a damp squib here in the south George.

We were only going to be able to view about 85% of the effect anyway, but it was cloudy so the best we got was a very overcast sky as if it was about to rain heavily    This all occurred about 9.30am for us here.

Probably get the best views on the news later on 

[ideasguy]

There was live running commentary on BBC1 Laurie. They were on the Isle of Skye - lots of people young and old there for the occasion. Conditions looked much like here. Also excellent live coverage from an aircraft.
We were very fortunate here. The cloud "thinned" to the extent where we had a good filtered view of the momentous event.
I took the risk of viewing directly for very brief moments. Tried a few photos but they done look good.

[roiphil]

Unfortunately we had full cloud cover, which cleared a little bit nearer the end

[barryl]

... and we had full (light) cloud cover also. It went very dark (like a rainstorm) and noticeably cold.

reminded me of the time (2008) when we specifically went on a cruise to the Arctic to see a total eclipse only for it to be 100% cloudy. Only 50ft of cloud (sea mist really) but quite enough. It did however go COMPLETLY dark for 2 1/2 minutes which was totally eery.

We did see a full long (nearly 7 minutes) solar eclipse the next year but that's a different story.

[Eric Hardy]

All cloudy here so not a sign. Adam says that he got a brilliant view in Wales and photographed its reflection in one of his ponds.

I am reminded of a holiday Anthea and I had in Rome, years ago. We were in a very crowded St Peters Square quite oblivious of an impending total eclipse of the sun. It had been boiling hot when suddenly there was a cold wind and it began to darken. The general hubbub suddenly ceased and it became strangely silent. It was very odd standing among this totally silent crowd. You could almost believe the end of the world was nigh. Gradually the sun emerged again, it warmed up and the crowd became quite noisy with excitement.

Eric H

[barryl]

I looked up "total eclipse of the sun in rome italy". You must be either extremely old or a time traveller! there were no such eclipses in the 20th century.

I guess it was a large partial eclipse (maybe 1999?).

[Eric Hardy]

Ah well, George, it was certainly as dramatic as I described so total or partial it still left a great impression on me. 1999 seems a likely date.

Eric H.

[barryl]

1999 (August) there was a total eclipse in Cornwall and it would certainly have been  a great experience in Rome especially if unexpected.

[Eric Hardy]

Thank you Barry, I feel better now.

Eric H