to think the eclipse is a bit of a let down?

[liveloveluggage]

It has gone a bit darker, but I was hoping for something more dramatic. AIBU?

Glasgow: clouded out at school. From my husbands office, the cloud cover was heavy enough they could just barely see the eclipse through it with no safety glasses. Not enough light to use a pinhole viewer.

Cloud cover aside, it seems the most disappointed were those expecting a dramatic moment of totality - which was never going to happen in a partial eclipse. I saw the first moment the moon edged across the sun (which you wouldn't see without proper glasses or viewer) and for me that was very exciting. And the knowledge that it's happening, exactly as predicted, was for me a real thrill even when the sun was covered. But nothing's going to 'happen'. If youre not excited by the wonder that is the universe, just doing it's thing, then I guess you're going to feel disappointed. Mind you, total cloud cover throughout would have dampened my excitement somewhat!

Its thing. Bloody phone.

I thought it was amazing

But then, I was lucky enough to have bought proper viewers before they sold out everywhere, beautiful clear skies above me and a school that encouraged children to participate safely and enjoy it

Dd1 was in awe and dd2 keeps asking to see the 'sun that looks like a moon again' - definitely memories made here today

Germany - cloudless blue sky - DD (9) really appreciated it with the social glasses one wonderful mum thought to order for the entire class well in advance (I tried buying them for the rezt of us - or just ds1 and 2, on Monday but everywhere was sold out). DS1 was home with a sore throat and underwhelmed watching through a pin hole camera. DS2 (4) remained oblivious to the whole thing.

*special not social

Agree the glasses or lack of made or broke it. They couldn't be had for live nor money if you didn't start looking before this week though!

A link for those that didn't manage to get any amazing pictures like those posted here

www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/20/your-entirely-underwhelming-solar-eclipse-photos?CMP=share_btn_tw

I was in tescos..

The great thing was that people were so interested. I drove across the city this morning and everywhere people had come out of their homes and workplaces to watch. I saw the "bite" very clearly, the light dimmed and the temperature fell. Fadingcat reacted with puzzlement when dusk fell. Outstanding!

I didn't notice anything.

If the moon is passing between Earth and the sun how come it doesn't go dark ?

The angle it passed across the sun was such that the whole of the sun wasn't behind the moon. Although most of the sun was blocked from our view by the moon enough sunlight kept it light.

In most places in the UK we only saw a partial eclipse you had to be further north to experience a total eclipse

the moon and suns sizes, when viewed from Earth, are very similar. So for a total eclipse to happen the moon and sun have to line up very exactly. That's why totality zones are very specific and quite small. When the moon isn't completely covering the sun, a chink of sunlight still gets through, and Even a tiny sliver is enough to light the earth. Any darkness or other effects are only discernible once you're more than about 95% coverage.

Thank you I understand now.

I live in an area in the 90% zone. I also went to Cornwall for the 99 eclipse which was amazing!

From 8:30 yesterday I was out with my pinhole camera. I visualised pretty much the whole event. It was fab. And really eerie when the light dimmed and the birds freaked out.