article_snippet: In reality, solar eclipses, like the one that can be seen across parts of the Northern Hemisphere today, are down to an amazing coincidence.
article_snippet: Millions will be in the penumbra part of the moon's shadow and able to see a partial eclipse but if you want to catch the full majesty of the 2015 totality you want to catch the full majesty of the 2015 totality will require a trip to the North Pole, Svalbard or the Faroe Islands between the UK and Norway.
article_snippet: You can find out whether you will be able to see the eclipse by watching our animation.
article_snippet: Solar eclipses are relatively common -- partial eclipses are visible somewhere on Earth most years -- but not necessarily in the same region.
article_snippet: You might wait hundreds of years between two total eclipses at the same place.
article_snippet: And not all eclipses are the same.
article_snippet: But you don't have to be an astronomer to appreciate the incredible spectacle of an eclipse.
article_snippet: CNN would like to see your pictures and videos and hear of your experiences by using CNN's eclipse iReport assignment-- but please take care.
article_snippet: Ahead of last year's eclipse in the United States, NASA advised CNN readers: "Even at maximum eclipse, a sliver of sun peeking out from behind the moon can still cause pain and eye damage.
article_snippet: You can find more safety advice on NASA's eclipse website.
article_snippet: A total solar eclipse is a phenomenon that won't last forever.