Viewing for many was marred by heavy clouds and rain, but the drama of the total eclipse – as darkness swept a narrow path across the continent – was unmistakable.
Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, picked out by China's National Astronomical Observatory as one of the best spots to view the phenomenon, was drenched by rain after days of fine weather. Forecasters had warned all eight of the selected sites could suffer bad weather.
Thousands of foreign tourists had come to the little-known city of 3.5m inhabitants. They reportedly included a party from India who had feared monsoon rains might obscure their view at home.
Solar eclipse is seen in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, at 8:33 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Photograph: Wang Peng/AP
Tourists, astronomers and residents across a large swathe of Asia turned their eyes to the heavens today as the longest eclipse of the 21st century arrived.
Around a thousand gathered in a public square for an official ceremony to mark the occasion. There were cheers when a glimpse of sun briefly broke through the clouds, shortly before the eclipse was due to begin at 8.22.20.
Visitors grabbed their darkened glasses in anticipation, following reminders that viewing with the naked eye could damage their eyesight.
But they would have little chance to use them: shortly afterwards the heavens opened and torrential rain hit the six viewing spots across the city.
Said Jin Qinlong, director of the tourism administration, said it was the most popular event in the city.
"It's a rare moment, I never thought I would see this in my life," said Abdullah Sayeed, a college student who traveled to Panchagarh town from the capital Dhaka to view it.
He said cars in the town needed to use headlights as "night darkness has fallen suddenly."
One of the best views, shown live on several television channels, appeared to be in the Indian town of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges river, sacred to devout Hindus.
Thousands of Hindus took a dip in keeping with the ancient belief that bathing in the river at Varanasi, especially on special occasions, cleanses one's sins. The eclipse was seen there for 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
From there it passed to southern Japan and across the Pacific Ocean, where it would reach its maximum length of 6 minutes and 29 seconds.
In Jiaxing, the sun began to slip behind the moon at 8.22.20 and reemerged completely 11.00.21, with total eclipse from 9.35.01 to 9.40.57.
According to NASA, a total eclipse, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, is only visible from a narrow strip - about 150 km wide - of the Earth's surface at any one time.
Humans have recorded eclipses for thousands of years, but they were often sources of fear rather than fascination. China's Cabinet – the State Council – recognised their enduring power when it issued a directive urging local officials to ensure social stability during the event and urged academics and the media to explain the scientific principles behind it lest it caused blind panic.
Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, picked out by China's National Astronomical Observatory as one of the best spots to view the phenomenon, was drenched by rain after days of fine weather. Forecasters had warned all eight of the selected sites could suffer bad weather.
Thousands of foreign tourists had come to the little-known city of 3.5m inhabitants. They reportedly included a party from India who had feared monsoon rains might obscure their view at home.
Solar eclipse is seen in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, at 8:33 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Photograph: Wang Peng/AP
Tourists, astronomers and residents across a large swathe of Asia turned their eyes to the heavens today as the longest eclipse of the 21st century arrived.
Around a thousand gathered in a public square for an official ceremony to mark the occasion. There were cheers when a glimpse of sun briefly broke through the clouds, shortly before the eclipse was due to begin at 8.22.20.
Visitors grabbed their darkened glasses in anticipation, following reminders that viewing with the naked eye could damage their eyesight.
But they would have little chance to use them: shortly afterwards the heavens opened and torrential rain hit the six viewing spots across the city.
Said Jin Qinlong, director of the tourism administration, said it was the most popular event in the city.
"It's a rare moment, I never thought I would see this in my life," said Abdullah Sayeed, a college student who traveled to Panchagarh town from the capital Dhaka to view it.
He said cars in the town needed to use headlights as "night darkness has fallen suddenly."
One of the best views, shown live on several television channels, appeared to be in the Indian town of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges river, sacred to devout Hindus.
Thousands of Hindus took a dip in keeping with the ancient belief that bathing in the river at Varanasi, especially on special occasions, cleanses one's sins. The eclipse was seen there for 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
From there it passed to southern Japan and across the Pacific Ocean, where it would reach its maximum length of 6 minutes and 29 seconds.
In Jiaxing, the sun began to slip behind the moon at 8.22.20 and reemerged completely 11.00.21, with total eclipse from 9.35.01 to 9.40.57.
According to NASA, a total eclipse, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, is only visible from a narrow strip - about 150 km wide - of the Earth's surface at any one time.
Humans have recorded eclipses for thousands of years, but they were often sources of fear rather than fascination. China's Cabinet – the State Council – recognised their enduring power when it issued a directive urging local officials to ensure social stability during the event and urged academics and the media to explain the scientific principles behind it lest it caused blind panic.