Total solar eclipse sweeps across Northern Hemisphere, darkens European skies

A total solar eclipse crossed a wide stretch of the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, briefly turning daylight into darkness in parts of Spain, France and Iceland. The moon passed in front of the sun, making the solar corona visible to observers along the path of totality. The eclipse's path of totality moved over Greenland, western Iceland, the northern half of Spain and a small section of northeastern Portugal. Much of the rest of Europe, along with parts of North Africa and North America, saw a partial eclipse. Totality lasted more than two minutes in some locations within the path. Authorities warned the public not to look directly at the sun without certified protective eyewear. In Spain, where viewing sites drew large crowds of residents and tourists, officials said extensive security measures were put in place and the event was tightly organized. No further details on viewing conditions or crowd turnout were immediately available from international reporting on Wednesday evening.