1999: Solar eclipse experienced from Alderney
BBC News has republished archive footage from 1999 showing the total solar eclipse as viewed from Alderney in the Channel Islands, timed to coincide with an upcoming partial eclipse visible from the same islands. The original event drew hundreds of astronomers and enthusiasts to the small island to witness one of the most dramatic astronomical spectacles, underlining Alderney's appeal as a viewing spot for such phenomena.
The total eclipse took place on 11 August 1999, and while cloud cover meant conditions were not perfect, many viewers said it actually made the eclipse easier to watch. The next eclipse visible from the Channel Islands will be a partial one, with the moon covering around 94% of the sun, peaking at 19:17 BST on Wednesday 12 August.
- Archive footage revisits 1999 total solar eclipse seen from Alderney
- Cloud cover on the day aided viewing, according to witnesses
- Partial eclipse to peak at 19:17 BST on 12 August, covering 94% of sun
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Alderney, one of the Channel Islands, was the site of a total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999, an event where the moon fully blocked out the sun and briefly turned day into darkness. The island's location made it a prime viewing spot, and it attracted large numbers of astronomers and members of the public keen to witness the phenomenon in person.
A total eclipse is considered a rare and striking natural event, since it can only be seen along a narrow path on the Earth's surface and often not for many years at a time in any given location. This background is relevant now because the Channel Islands are due to see another eclipse, this time a partial one, in which the moon covers only part of the sun rather than obscuring it completely.