Northern group island of Penrhyn is one of the first places to have witnessed a solar eclipse early this morning at around 6.39am.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun’s rays from reaching Earth.

However, according to Cook Islands website www.cookislands.org.uk, published by retired BBC radio and TV reporter and presenter John Roberts, the island residents won’t be able to witness a total eclipse, but 98.5 per cent of the sun will be blocked out.

“​The total eclipse will be visible across a huge stretch of the United States, but it all starts just north of Penrhyn. That’s where the Moon’s shadow first touches Earth so there’s no doubt the world will hear about this stunningly beautiful and remote island,” said Roberts, the author of the book “Around the Corner from Nowhere: The Cook Islands Rediscovered”.

On Rarotonga and Aitutaki, a partial eclipse is visible. On Rarotonga, 38 per cent of the sun will be blocked out at approximately 6.51am (Cook Islands time). On Aitutaki, 47 per cent of the sun will be obscured at 6.49am.

Cloud cover, however, could affect the extent of the view, said Roberts.

This is the third time in 59 years that islands in the Cooks group have been in the path of a solar eclipse: on the two previous occasions they were total eclipses.

On May 30, 1965, uninhabited Manuae attracted what was then the largest gathering ever of solar astronomers to observe a total eclipse from a single site.

“Six seconds after 8.21 am on July 11, 2010, day turned to night on the ancient island of Mangaia as the shadow of the moon obscured the sun,” said Roberts.

“And for the following 3 minutes 18.8 seconds, the island, its 654 residents and around 400 visitors from all over the world had the experience of a lifetime.”