When the sun goes dark: Europe's solar eclipse

Those who want to see more than just a tiny circle should use a telescope, like this eclipse chaser from the southern German town of Regensburg.

Slowly, the moon passes between the earth and the sun - captured here in a striking image by a photographer from Portugal.

Prior to the eclipse, an employee of the Berlin planetarium arranged a telescope to make sure the event could be properly observed.

A solar eclipse is a rare event, so many people take to the streets to ensure they don't miss it. But beware: Use protective glasses to avoid danger to the eyes, or even blindness.

In many parts of Germany, the demand for special solar eclipse glasses like the one pictured greatly outstripped supply.

... shared by DW user Angus Paterson.

Could this be Batman descending on Gotham City? Nope - just a dove, pictured against the darkening sun. The image was taken in Munich.

A crescent-shaped sun in the UK, captured by Paul Ellis. In the foreground, he managed to include the symbol of the city of Liverpool, the Liver bird.

In much of Europe, cloudy skies or fog obscured many views of the solar eclipse. In Plymouth, England, observers were lucky when the clouds dispersed for a moment, allowing a clear view of the crescent-shaped sun.

Longyearbyen, the largest city on Svalbard, saw a total solar eclipse. The only visible part of the sun is its corona.

A thoroughly puzzling image, sent to DW from Milan, Italy, by Chiara Rimo.

A partial eclipse was certainly good enough for some spectacular shots, as proven by this image of the Milan cathedral.