--- description: A blanket of clouds blocked the full experience in the North Atlantic title: Solar Eclipse Teases Skywatchers on Northern Islands image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c5e36a54f4a396b/6987848dcd6848a0d509a412/ap953655573903-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Space](/tag/space/) ## Space Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Solar Eclipse Teases Skywatchers on Northern Islands by [NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 20, 2015 5:44 PM CUT  The total solar eclipse seen from Svalbard, Norway on March 20, 2015. The total solar eclipse seen from Svalbard, Norway on March 20, 2015.Haakon Mosvold Larsen—AP by [NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 20, 2015 5:44 PM CUT LONGYEARBYEN, Norway — For the best view of the solar spectacle of the year, Svalbard eclipsed the Faroe Islands. Skywatchers in the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard popped champagne corks, oohed and aahed as they witnessed a total solar eclipse Friday under perfect weather conditions. A clear sky over the Arctic islands offered a full view of the sun’s corona—a faint ring of rays surrounding the moon—that is only visible during a total eclipse. “I was just blown away. I couldn’t believe it,” said Hilary Castle, a 58-year-old visitor from London. Meanwhile, a blanket of clouds… [Read the rest of the story from our partners at NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/solar-eclipse-totally-teases-skywatchers-northern-islands-n327211?cid=par-time-article%5F20141002 "undefined") ### See the Best Solar Eclipse Pictures  The total solar eclipse seen from Svalbard, Norway on March 20, 2015. Olav Jon Nesvold—EPA  The sun through clouds during the maximun solar eclipse seen from the Jolimont observatory in Toulouse, France on March 20, 2015. Alain Pitton—Demotix/Corbis  A partial solar eclipse of the sun is visible in Rabat, Morocco on March 20, 2015. Abdelhak Senna—EPA  A total solar eclipse occurs over Svalbard, Norway on March 20, 2015. Haakon Mosvold Larsen—NTB Scanpix/Reuters  A dove is pictured in front of the sun during a partial solar eclipse in Munich on March 20, 2015. Alexander Hassenstein—Getty Images  A partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds in Sofia, Bugaria on March 20, 2015. Stoyan Nenov—Reuters  Partial Solar eclipse seen from Yorkshire, United Kingdom on March 20, 2015. Nigel Roddis—Rex USA  The moon passes between the sun and the earth after the totality phase of a total solar eclipse as from Torshavn, the capital of the Faeroe Islands on March 20, 2015. 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