Solar Eclipse 2015 Kicks Off a Day of Celestial Events

The eclipse featured the new moon completely covering the sun.

ByABC News
March 20, 2015, 5:39 AM

— -- A total solar eclipse was visible in the Faroe Islands today, a dazzling display that kicked off a day of celestial events.

People in the Faroe Islands, which are located in the North Atlantic, halfway between Iceland and Norway, had front-row seats to the eclipse, which occurred early Friday as the new moon completely covered the sun.

This is the world's first total solar eclipse since November 2013. A partial solar eclipse was also visible in most of Europe.

People watch in darkness during the totality of a solar eclipse on as seen from a hill beside a hotel on the edge of the city overlooking Torshavn, the capital city of the Faeroe Islands, March 20, 2015.

The United States will have its turn to enjoy a total solar eclipse when it passes over the country on Aug. 21, 2017, according to NASA.

People wait for the start of a total solar eclipse on a hill beside a hotel overlooking the sea and Torshavn, the capital city of the Faeroe Islands, March 20, 2015.

Supermoon

The moon will also reach perigee on Friday, the point where it is closest to the Earth, creating a supermoon -- albeit a dark one -- that will add another element to the total solar eclipse.

Spring Equinox

Get ready for spring if you live in the northern hemisphere.

The official start of spring, the vernal equinox, will be marked on Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET when the Earth's axis lines up perpendicularly to the sun's rays -- marking one of the two equinoxes that occur each year.