Indonesians were among the few worldwide to witness an eclipse of the sun Monday, some cheering and banging on drums as the moon slowly crossed its path, blocking out everything but a thin, blazing rim of fire. Dozens gathered in the western coastal town of Anyer to see the spectacle, which peaked at 4:40 p.m. and lasted for about four minutes.
Annular eclipses, which are considered far less important to astronomers than total eclipses of the sun, occur about 66 times a century and can only be viewed by people in the narrow band along its path. Aside from several regions in Indonesia -- from Sumatra island in the west to Kalimantan in the east -- only villagers on a tiny South Pacific island group known as the Cocos could see Monday's eclipse. (19 images)
Annular eclipses, which are considered far less important to astronomers than total eclipses of the sun, occur about 66 times a century and can only be viewed by people in the narrow band along its path. Aside from several regions in Indonesia -- from Sumatra island in the west to Kalimantan in the east -- only villagers on a tiny South Pacific island group known as the Cocos could see Monday's eclipse. (19 images)
The moon blocks the sun in a partial solar eclipse as it sets on Monday Jan. 26, at Manila Bay in the Philippines. AP / Aaron Favila
Thai school children look at a partial solar eclipse through filters at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Apichart Weerawong
Indonesian children look up through x-ray film sheets to watch a solar eclipse in the sky in Anyer Beach, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Achmad Ibrahim
Indonesian children look up through an x-ray film sheet to watch a solar eclipse in the sky in Anyer Beach, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Achmad Ibrahim
This picture shows the sun partially covered by the moon during an eclipse as seen from Jakarta on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP / Getty Images / Bay Ismoyo
Indonesian children look up through an x-ray film sheet to watch a solar eclipse in the sky in Anyer Beach, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Achmad Ibrahim
Indonesian women look up through anti-UV film sheets to watch a solar eclipse in the sky in Anyer Beach, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Achmad Ibrahim
This picture shows the sun partially covered by the moon during an eclipse as seen from Jakarta on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP/ Getty Images / Bay Ismoyo
This combo picture shows the moon covering the sun as seen from Jakarta on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP / Getty Images / Bay Ismoyo
Myanmar Buddhist novices watch solar eclipse through the filters Monday, Jan. 26, in Yangon, Myanmar. AP / Khin Maung Win
The moon cast a shadow at the sun blocking it partially in a partial solar eclipse, Monday Jan. 26, in Manila, Philippines, the first in 2009. AP / Aaron Favila
Residents try to catch a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse in Manila on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP / Getty Images / Jes Aznar
Astrology students use protective film to view an eclipse in Singapore on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP / Getty Images / Roslan Rahman
The sun is partialy covered by the moon during a partial solar eclipse as seen in Manila on Jan. 26. A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean were to be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse would transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim. AFP / Getty Images / Jes Aznar
A woman views a solar eclipse through specially-designed viewing glasses in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Jan. 26. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth so that the sun is wholly or partially obscured. The eclipse, which started at 7am local time, lasted for two and a half hours. AP / Schalk Van Zuydam
Children view a solar eclipse through specially-designed viewing glasses in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Jan. 26. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth so that the sun is wholly or partially obscured. The eclipse, which started at 7am local time, lasted for two and a half hours. AP / Schalk Van Zuydam
A man reflects a partial solar eclipse through the lens of a telescope while watching the phenomenon at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Apichart Weerawong
Thai school boys look at a partial solar eclipse through telescopes at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand Monday, Jan. 26. AP / Apichart Weerawong
Two ships rests as the moon casts a shadow at the sun blocking it partially in a partial solar eclipse, Monday Jan. 26 in Manila, Philippines, the first in 2009. AP / Aaron Favila
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