Total Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurred on July 31, 1981.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across the surface of the Earth, while a partial solar eclipse will be visible over a region thousands of kilometers wide.

The next eclipse in the triple-Saros series occured on Jul 31, 1981, but too far to the east to be seen in Britain. But the very next eclipse after that in this Saros series happened on Aug 11 1999!