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. 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. 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.
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. All Rights Reserved.