Interesting Facts

According to the Office of National Statistics, today's solar eclipse, could cost the UK economy £625m. CC-Source OU (With millions of Brits expected to watch the eclipse, FirstCare, the UK’s largest absence monitoring firm, has warned of a 10 per cent increase in absenteeism, and an additional 6 per cent fall in morning staff numbers as workers slack off and pull sickies. I say go for it.  There won't be another eclipse in the UK until August 2026, so this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.)

20th March There will be a partial solar eclipse across the UK and Northern Europe. The longest period of darkness - nearly three minutes - will occur over a spot in the Arctic Ocean at 09:46 GMT In the past an eclipse was a big event too:- "The great eclipse of the sun in 1764, occasioned the very following ludicrous circumstance in Ireland: The Earl of H-----------; who, like some of our English Nobles, was much better skilled in driving four in hand than in astronomy, was met in Dublin by the facetious George Nangle on the morning of the eclipse: - 'Where so fast, my Lord?', cried George - 'To the College', answered the Peer, 'to see the eclipse' - 'Then you will be disappointed,' replied George, 'for it is absolutely put off till tomorrow!' His Lordship immediately turned his phaeton round and drove home, while George proclaimed the joke throughout the city, to the infinite mirth of the public, at his Lordship's expense." - Lon...