A rare total solar eclipse swept across Europe on Wednesday, plunging cities into darkness for up to four minutes. The celestial event, visible along a narrow path from Portugal to Russia, drew millions of spectators and caused temporary disruptions in air travel and power grids.

The eclipse began over the Atlantic Ocean and moved eastward, first hitting Portugal's coastline at 11:30 a.m. local time. In Paris, crowds gathered along the Seine as the midday sky turned pitch black. Temperature drops of up to 6 degrees Celsius were recorded. Scientists from the European Space Agency described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to study the sun's corona without interference.

Airports in Spain, France, and Germany issued ground stops as aviation authorities feared pilots could be blinded. Energy operators reported a brief dip in solar power generation—equivalent to losing 2,000 megawatts across the continent. However, no major incidents were reported. Social media erupted with images of crescent-shaped shadows and stunned onlookers.

For those who missed this eclipse, the next total solar eclipse over mainland Europe won't occur until 2026. NASA estimated that over 100 million people lived or traveled within the viewing path. The event also gave a boost to local tourism and astrophotography sales.