A Solstice ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse

Alan Taylor
June 22, 2020
16 Photos
In Focus

Yesterday, the moon crossed in front of the sun in an annular solar eclipse, as seen by residents across broad sections of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. A “ring of fire” was visible in the sky above the zone of totality, as the moon appeared slightly smaller than the sun. Photographers in several countries documented the phenomenon—one of only two solar eclipses taking place this year—and some of its many observers.

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A crow stands on a roof as a partial solar eclipse is observed in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 21, 2020. #

Baz Ratner / Reuters

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A girl observes a partial solar eclipse while sitting on the Mahanakhon Skywalk glass tray on the King Power Mahanakhon building in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 21, 2020. #

Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters

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A man watches an annular solar eclipse through X-ray film in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 21, 2020. #

Arif Ali / AFP / Getty

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Photographers aim their lenses at the partial solar eclipse over Binzhou in China's Shandong province, on June 21, 2020. #

Costfoto / Barcroft Media / Getty

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The partial solar eclipse is seen on June 21, 2020, in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China. #

Hu Yuanjia / VCG via Getty

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A boy wears a welding helmet as protection to observe a partial solar eclipse from Yeruham, Israel, on June 21, 2020. #

Amir Cohen / Reuters

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The partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds on June 21, 2020 in Shenzhen, in China's Guangdong province. #

VCG via Getty

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Hundreds of small images of the partial eclipse are visible under the shade of a tree in Kuqa City, China, on June 21, 2020. The tiny gaps between leaves behave like pinhole lenses, showing the outline of the eclipsed sun on the ground. #

Costfoto / Barcroft Media / Getty

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People watch the solar eclipse in Budai, Taiwan, on June 21, 2020. #

Ann Wang / Reuters

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A man tries to take photos as a solar eclipse is seen in Chiayi City, Taiwan, on June 21, 2020. #

Chiang Ying-ying / AP

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A bird sits on a dragon sculpture at a temple during a solar eclipse at Budai, on June 21,2020. #

Ann Wang / Reuters

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A man wears a face mask as he observes the partial solar eclipse through sunglasses at the Al Thuraya Astronomy Center on June 21, 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. #

Francois Nel / Getty

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The partial solar eclipse is projected on a man's hand through binoculars, in Nairobi, Kenya on June 21, 2020. #

Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP / Getty

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Workers observe the partial solar eclipse through protective glasses at Al Thuraya Astronomy Center on June 21, 2020, in Dubai. #

Francois Nel / Getty

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The annular solar eclipse is seen above Ali prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2020. #

Jia Jiqian / VCG via Getty

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A woman observes the partial solar eclipse at the Al Thuraya Astronomy Center in Dubai on June 21, 2020 . #

Francois Nel / Getty

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