Last August 11th was a day many people will never forget, myself included. As if by magic, the timeless motion of the Earth, Moon and Sun created the ultimate in celestial hide and seek - a total solar eclipse.
Eclipses are relatively common as astronomical events go.
A total solar eclipse occurs about once every 15 months, when the Moon moves in front of the Sun obscuring its bright surface - the photosphere. The last to occur in mainland Britain was back in 1927. Luckily, last month the shadow of the Moon raced across some of the most populated areas in the world. For many, it was the first time they had experienced the awesome event of being plunged into darkness. Among Science Line's destinations to report the eclipse was the small idyllic island of Alderney, in the English Channel.