On Wednesday, a celestial spectacle arrives: the Moon passes in front of the Sun and for parts of Europe a total solar eclipse takes place for the first time since 1999.

The total eclipse begins at 07:31 pm in north-western Spain, and the spectacle will later draw to a close over the Balearic Islands. By then, the sun will already be very low in the sky – so find a spot with an unobstructed view to the west. Hills and other higher ground provide ideal vantage points.

For the UK and Ireland, a partial eclipse will be visible from 06:17 pm and peaks around 07:13 pm with around 91% coverage of the Sun.