Sky gazers around the
world excitedly gathered outside to watch the rare annular eclipse, which
produces a 'ring of fire' around the sun, when it swept across Asia and the western United States on Sunday
evening.
But these incredible
pictures show that all those Earth-bound astronomy fans had it wrong, and that
the best vantage point from which to examine the unusual phenomenon was in fact
space, where the view could not be impeded by pesky obstructions such as clouds.
The photographs were
taken by the Japanese-owned Hindu telescope satellite, which orbits the Earth
but is constantly pointed at the Sun, allowing for permanent observation of the
body at the centre of our solar system.
Along with the stunning
images, a video has emerged which shows the progress of the moon across the
face of the sun, captured by photographer Cory Poole who edited together 700
separate photographs taken with his telescope.
But the view wasn't too
bad from Earth, as the moon slowly 'bit into' the sun, creating incredible visual effects such as a golden heart gleaming through branches in Los Angles. The annular eclipse, in
which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its
edges, created incredible visual effects around the world - and photographers
let their technical imaginations run wild with 'trick' shots such as this
heart-shaped sun.
In Japan, 'eclipse
tours' were arranged at schools and parks, on pleasure boats and even private
airplanes. Similar events were held in China and Taiwan as well, with sky
watchers warned to protect their eyes.
People from Colorado,
Oklahoma and as far away as Canada traveled to Albuquerque to enjoy one of the
best vantage points at a park on the edge of the city.
Members of the crowd
smiled and cheered and children yelled with excitement as the moon crossed the
sun and the blazing halo of light began to form. Some watched the eclipse by
placing their viewing glasses on the front of their smart phones.
Eventually, the moon
centered and covered about 96 percent of the sun.
'That's got to be the
prettiest thing I've ever seen,' said Brent Veltri of Saluda, Colorado.
At the Taipei
Astronomical Museum in Taiwan, the spectacle emerged from dark clouds for only
about 30 seconds. But the view was nearly perfect against Manila's orange
skies.
'It's amazing. We do
this for the awe [and] it has not disappointed. I am awed, literally floored,'
said astronomical hobbyist Garry Andreessen, whose long camera lenses were
lined up with those of about 10 other gazers in a downtown Manila park.
Hong Kong sky watchers
weren't so lucky.
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