Up close and personal with the 'ring of fire': Amazing pictures show SPACE was the best place to watch rare annular eclipse
By Daily Mail UK
Skygazers 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 Hinode 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.
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Ideal vantage point: Some of the most stunning pictures of Sunday's annular eclipse were taken from space
Satellite: These images were taken by the Japanese-owned Hinode telescope which is constantly pointed at the sun
Ring of fire: This satellite image captures the moment where the moon covered nearly the entire face of the sun
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 Angeles.
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.
The 'classic' view of an annular eclipse is as a burning ring. In the U.S., viewing parties were held at observatories in Reno, Nevada, and Oakland, California, and elsewhere.
In some areas, special camera filters for taking photographs have been sold out for weeks in anticipation of the big event.
A branch foregrounds the heart shaped sun during an annular solar eclipse seen from Los Angeles
Hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix
A small bird rests at a powerline backgrounded by an annular solar eclipse seen from Los Angeles
Scottsdale, America: The moon is pictured as it passes between the earth and the sun briefly blocking out most of the sun's surface
A thundershower rolls through as an annular solar eclipse appears in Gardnerville, Nevada
The eclipse in Wisconsin: The 'annular eclipse' in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States
A plane flies past an annular solar eclipse from Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines
An annular solar eclipse appears above a Ferris wheel in the sky over Yokohama near Tokyo
An annular eclipse appears at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo
The annular eclipse is visible through binoculars in Sacramento, California
The ring of fire: the rare annular eclipse as seen from Albequerqe, New Mexico, one of the western states where it was most visible
Stunning: The unusual event stood out against the evening sky in Odessa, Texas
Partial eclipse: The moon moving between the earth and the sun, blocking out some of the light
Clear: Cloudless skies above the Grand Canyon allowed observers a great view of the astronomic event
WHAT CAUSES THE 'RING OF FIRE'? ANNULAR ECLIPSES EXPLAINED
Not every eclipse of the Sun is a total eclipse. On occasion the Moon is too small to cover the whole of the Sun. This is because of the Moon's orbit around Earth which is oval or elliptical in shape.
As the Moon orbits Earth its distance varies from about 221,000 to 252,000 miles. This 13 per cent variant makes its apparent size, from our perspective, vary by the same amount.
If an eclipse occurs while the Moon is on the far side of its elliptical orbit, it appears smaller than the Sun and can't completely cover it - creating the 'ring of fire' effect due this weekend.
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 skywatchers 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 smartphones.
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 Salida, 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 Andreassen, whose long camera lenses were lined up with those of about 10 other gazers in a downtown Manila park.
Hong Kong skywatchers weren't so lucky.
Excitement: A family watches the eclipse from Chico, California - with the precaution of special lenses
Hi-tech: A man uses a special film to protect his tablet computer as he photographs the eclipse
Even pets need protection: A dog decked out in stylish but practical eyewear to enable him to watch the eclipse from Tokyo
The eclipse was broadcast live on TV in Tokyo, where such an eclipse hasn't been visible since 1839.
Japanese TV crews watched from the top of Mount Fuji and even staked out a zoo south of Tokyo to capture the reaction of the chimpanzees - who didn't seem to notice.
A light rain fell on Tokyo as the eclipse began, but the clouds thinned as it reached its peak, providing near perfect conditions.
'It was a very mysterious sight,' said Kaori Sasaki, who joined a crowd in downtown Tokyo to watch event. 'I've never seen anything like it.'
Progression: This image shows how the sky changed above the Pueblo Bonito ancient building at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Nageezi, Arizona
Phases: A composite image of the annular eclipse as seen from Tokyo on Sunday night
The big C: The annular solar eclipse is spotted in the sky above Chandler, Arizona
Fire in the sky: This photo shows the solar eclipse from downtown Fort Worth, Texas
Several hundred people gathered along the Kowloon waterfront on Hong Kong's famed Victoria Harbor, most of them students or commuters on their way to work.
The eclipse was already underway as the sun began to rise, but heavy clouds obstructed the view.
The eclipse followed a narrow 8,500-mile path for 3 1/2 hours. The ring phenomenon lasted about five minutes, depending on location.
People outside the narrow band for prime viewing saw a partial eclipse.
'Ring of Fire' eclipses are not as dramatic as a total eclipse, when the disc of the sun is entirely blocked by the moon. The moon is too far from Earth and appears too small in the sky to blot out the sun completely.
What a sight: An aeroplane flies past the annular solar eclipse from Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines
Light show: The eclipse is seen reflected in a pool of water in Beijing, China
Awe: From the astronomy student, left, to the gaggle of schoolboys, right, no one could keep their eyes of the phenomenon
Doctors and education officials have warned of eye injuries from improper viewing.
Before the event started, Japan's Education Minister Hirofumi Hirano demonstrated how to use eclipse glasses in a televised news conference.
Police also cautioned against traffic accidents - warning drivers to keep their eyes on the road.
Sky stunner: The solar eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, is seen briefly during a break in clouds over Taipei, Taiwan
'I've never seen anything like it': A partial eclipse is seen from Tokyo as the sun and moon aligned over the earth in the rare astronomical event
View: A plane flies above the annular solar eclipse in a stunning image from Irving, Texas
Path: The eclipse begins in eastern Asia on Monday then crosses the north Pacific to end in western U.S.
Watch the stunning time-lapse video
YouTube: mrcorypoole