Yesterday, the Moon passed between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow from China to North America. This was an annular eclipse, where the Moon's apparent diameter is slightly smaller than the Sun's, blocking all but a ring of sunlight. Skywatchers brought out special glasses, welder's masks, and telescopes to safely view this relatively rare event. Some were lucky enough to look down and see overlapping pinhole projections of the eclipse as the sunlight streamed through the leaves of nearby trees. Gathered here, for those who weren't able to see it in person, is a group of images of yesterday's annular eclipse. [26 photos]
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The Moon partially eclipses the Sun, as seen from Venice, California, on May 20, 2012. Original here. (CC BY SAIan Norman)
The Moon partially eclipses the Sun, as seen from Venice, California, on May 20, 2012. Original here. (CC BY SAIan Norman)
The annular solar eclipse, observed through light clouds above Tokyo, Japan, on May 21, 2012. It was the first time in 25 years an annular solar eclipse was observable in Japan. (Masashi Hara/Getty Images) #
A businessman watches the annular solar eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as the rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) #
A partial annular solar eclipse above the titanium dome of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, on May 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #
A child looks at pinhole projections produced as sunlight passed through a card punched with small holes, during an eclipse at Taipei Astronomical Museum May 21, 2012. The Chinese characters read, "Taipei." (Reuters/Pichi Chuang) #
Jean Paul from France uses his solar shades to watch the annular eclipse at Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah, on May 20, 2012. (Reuters/Gene Blevins) #
The annular solar eclipse, partially seen at sunrise on May 21, 2012, from coastal township of Gumaca, Quezon province, 187 km (116 mi) southeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) #
The annular solar eclipse, as the sun sets behind the Rocky Mountains, seen from downtown Denver, Colorado late on May 20, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) #
Ring-tailed lemurs look on as children view a solar eclipse at the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama city in Aichi prefecture, central Japan, on May 21, 2012. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images) #
The annular solar eclipse is projected onto a white piece of cardboard during a viewing party at the Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan) #
Amaleah Barker wears a welding mask while viewing the annular eclipse over the southwestern town of Kanarraville, Utah, on May 20, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
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