How does total solar eclipse look like from space?

As the world awaits this year’s total solar eclipse, space experts and scientists have weighed in, detailing the celestial event and cautioning people of its dangers.

However, this time a former scientist and veteran astronaut from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), who has been lucky enough to witness the total solar eclipse in space, has recently shared his "unique" experience with the world.

Virts, who retired from Nasa in 2016, told USA Today that he witnessed an eclipse in space over the North Atlantic in 2015.

"It was an eclipse that very few humans saw I think, but it was a really unique experience to look down and just see this big black circle kind of moving across the planet," he remarked.

The expert described the view saying it was "unlike anything I've ever seen".

Virts said that he often jokes about being glad that the people at Nasa informed his team about the eclipse beforehand "because it would have been unsettling to look down at Earth and see this black spot moving across. It was really cool".

Virts, who says he's seen one eclipse from space and many from Earth, is also among those eagerly waiting for the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8.

"I say on a scale from one to 10, that's kind of like a seven," Virts says of the upcoming eclipse. "It's interesting. It gets a little bit dark. If you have proper eclipse viewing glasses, you can see the moon take a bite out of the sun."

Additionally, Virts advised everyone to be careful while viewing the eclipse and avoid staring at the sun with unprotected eyes or even with normal sunglasses "because the sun is just so bright".

Virts, who spent almost 231 days in space, also encouraged everyone to try and witness the solar eclipse from its path of totality because "it's an amazing experience and it's not going to happen again for 40 years in America".