Eclipse races across Europe

(top to bottom) Before, during and after the total eclipse over Cornwall, England
INTERACTIVE This satellite image taken by the European EUMESTAT satellite shows the moon's shadow as it crosses over Western Europe Eclipse preparations around the world VIDEO A view of the eclipse from Diyarbakir, Turkey Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Iraqi astronomers gather in Mosul to watch eclipse Live Web streams of the eclipse: NASA: Eclipse '99 Exploratorium: Live Webcast from Europe and Asia Eclipse '99 - The Irish Times View from ship Normandy, positioned off the French coast Satellite images: From EUMESTAT

August 11, 1999
Web posted at: 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 GMT)

In this story: Gloomy views in England Eclipse takes a victim RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- Despite downcast weather reports and intermittent rain, viewers across Europe were able to get at least a partial view Wednesday of the millennium's last full solar eclipse.

Thousands crammed the streets of Ramnicu Valcea, the south-central city in Romania where the spectacle could be seen the longest -- 2 minutes and 23 seconds. Hundreds more made the trek to a half-dried up salt lake just outside the city, munching on barbecued prawn and steak as they prepared for an unimpeded view of the eclipse.

"We are a bit scared," said Silvia Popa, a 44-year old accountant, reflecting age-old Balkan superstitions connected with the sun's disappearance. "They say after an eclipse, there is either a storm or a cataclysm."

There was neither, as the moon ate its way into the sun, slowly obscuring it. But temperatures in the 30s Centigrade (high 80s Fahrenheit) dropped noticeably as the clear skies grew darker and the moon's shadow raced across the planet at 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h).

Sharing the viewing with her and other Romanians at the lake were hundreds of tourists from Germany, Japan, Britain and other nations. Dozens of scientists from the United States, Britain and Japan gathered in Romania to get the longest view possible of the event, which presents a rare opportunity to study the sun's corona, or outer layer of gas.

In Ramnicu Valcea, a city of 100,000 dominated by gray concrete buildings, traffic was light, with most people opting for a view from sidewalks and rooftops.

"Wow!" one teen-ager yelled. "Cool!" said another. As the eclipse approached totality, a loud cheer went up from the crowd.

The city had been vibrating with loud rock concerts in the days leading up to the eclipse. But the music fell silent as the sun started to disappear -- municipal officials kept their promise to turn off the music during the event.

In Cornwall, at the southwest tip of England and the eclipse's landfall, heavy clouds gave a gloomy cast to me two-minute spectacle watched by hundreds of thousands. In parts of Germany, sky watchers peeked up at the sky beneath umbrellas and the hoods of rain parkas where gray weather afforded them only an obscured view of the event.

A partial eclipse passed over Nova Scotia just after 5 a.m. EDT. Clear skies gave Newfoundlanders a perfect view, with about 300 people gathered on Signal Hill, on Canada's Atlantic coast, as the moon covered about 93 percent of the sun.

Clouds over Cornwall, England gave the eclipse an eerie look

In effect, the early risers saw two sunrises as they gathered over coffee and sandwiches to watch the eclipse begin its journey across the Atlantic.

After darkening Europe, the shadow passed over Turkey and headed toward India and the Bay of Bengal to its east. The entire event will last three hours.

In Berlin, a 24-year-old German was the first victim of the eclipse when he was taken to hospital with severe burns after he climbed a power pylon to get a good view and then touched the 20,000-volt electricity cable.

Nature is turned upside down for the rare celestial event.

Temperatures drop by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Birds stop singing, dogs howl and badgers come out of lairs.

It will be the last total eclipse seen in Western Europe until 2081.

The Associated Press and other wire services contributed to this report.