Ring Of Fire Eclipse Seen In Western US And Asia

Early this morning the sky watchers in Asia and the Western United States were able to see the moon nearly completely blot out the sun. The effect is what's called a "ring of fire" eclipse. The eclipse was viewable early Monday morning in Asia and was viewable in parts of the Western United States late Sunday afternoon.

As the Moon moved across the face of the sun, it created a reddish orange Halo. The moon eventually covered 96% of the sun. Viewing parties for the event were held in observatories in Reno, Nevada, and Oakland, California. Apparently, special filters needed to take photographs of the eclipse were sold out for weeks in advance of the event.

American Indians in the area where the eclipse was viewable followed tradition and stayed indoors. According to American Indian beliefs, they are not supposed to eat, drink, or sleep for the duration of an eclipse. Special glasses were needed for direct viewing of the eclipse with the naked eye. The eclipse was viewable in Tokyo, Japan making it the first visible from the city since 1839.

[via Washington Post]