Millions enjoy eclipse spectacle

A few places on a line between Mexico and Indonesia enjoyed an annular eclipse.

In this, the moon passes directly in front of the Sun, but is not close enough to the Earth to entirely cover it, producing a "ring of fire" effect at the edge.

The closest points in the Pacific to this were the islands of Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Marianas group, which lay inside the path of annularity.

The best cities to see the eclipse in the US were Los Angeles and San Francisco in California, and Phoenix in Arizona, which experienced between 65% and 71% coverage.

The view was also good in Canada, Japan and China.

In parts of Mexico, 94% of the Sun's disc was blocked out, although the spectacular sight lasted little more than a minute.

Small groups

The eclipse began in the US on Monday evening as the Sun began to set, and was seen in Asia the following morning at sunrise.

Unfortunately, bad weather ruined the view in Hong Kong and many parts of Indonesia, but not in the Philippines, where small groups gathered to watch.

Warnings had been issued by experts not to look directly at the Sun as, even when obscured, this can lead to eye damage.

Many viewers heeded the warnings, and watched using eye shades.