TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see. Millions of others, fearing a bad omen, shuttered themselves indoors. Chinese launched fireworks and danced in Shanghai. On a remote Japanese island, bewildered cattle went to their feeding troughs thinking night had fallen. And in India, a woman was crushed as thousands of viewers crowded the banks of the Ganges for a glimpse. Starting off in India just after dawn, the eclipse was visible across a wide swath of Asia before moving over southern Japan and then off into the Pacific Ocean. In some parts of Asia, it lasted as long as 6 minutes and 39 seconds. The eclipse is the longest since July 11, 1991, when a total eclipse lasting 6 minutes, 53 seconds was visible from Hawaii to South America. There will not be a longer eclipse than Wednesday's until 2132. (21 images)
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Haru Sugimoto, 8, left, grabs a pair of protective glass from his sister Karen, 6, as their mother Kayo, only hands seen, breaks them up while watching a partial solar eclipse in downtown Osaka, western Japan, Wednesday, July 22. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near-darkness after dawn, as millions watched the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon Wednesday. AP / Junji Kurokawa
The diamond ring shines during total solar eclipse observed from a ship sailing near Kita Iwojima, 1,040 kilometers (650 miles) south of Tokyo, Japan, at 11:33 a.m.
on Wednesday, July 22. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon.AP / Akiko Matsushita
Visitors watches the solar eclipse in the dark in Hangzhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province, Wednesday, July 22. AP / EyePress
The sky goes dark over the statue of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Wuhan, Hubei province, on July 22, as the lunar shadow or "umbra" moves over the city during a solar eclipse. Getty Images / AFP
The sky goes dark over southwest China's Chongqing municipality on July 22, as the lunar shadow or "umbra" moves over the city during a solar eclipse. Getty Images / AFP
Residents gather to watch solar eclipse over southwest China's Chongqing municipality on July 22, as the lunar shadow or "umbra" moves over the city. Getty Images / AFP
Sadhus, or Hindu holy men, watch the solar eclipse through specially-designed viewing glasses in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
Hindu devotees observe a solar eclipse through specially-designed viewing glasses as they take holy dips in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Sarawati River, in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Rajesh Kumar Singh
A partial solar eclipse is seen behind the Golden Temple, Sikhs holiest shrine, in Amritsar, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Altaf Qadri
People congregate on the banks of the River Ganges at total solar eclipse in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Saurabh Das
A total solar eclipse is seen from an aircraft over Patna, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Shreya Sahai
People gather to observe the solar eclipse at Taregna village near Patna in Bihar state, India, Wednesday, July 22. Scientists had said the Indian village of Taregna would have the clearest view, where thousands of scientists, nature enthusiasts and students gathered a day in advance. But thick clouds and overnight rains provided no spectacle, just a cloudy darkness. AP / Aftab Alam Siddiqui
Hindu devotees offer prayers as they take dips in the River Ganges during the solar eclipse in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Saurabh Das
Devotees offer prayers at the start of the solar eclipse as they take a holy dip in the River Ganges in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Saurabh Das
Children look at the sun though specially-designed viewing glasses during the solar eclipse in Calcutta, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Bikas Das
A partial solar eclipse is seen rising behind the Taj Mahal, unseen, a historical monument in Agra, India, Wednesday, July 22. AP / Manish Swarup
A man watches a solar eclipse in the Indian city of Varanasi on July 22. AFP / Getty Images / Pedro Ugarte
This multiple exposure image shows the various stages of the total solar eclipse in Baihata village, 30 kms from Guwahati, the capital city of the northeastern state of Assam on July 22. AFP / Getty Images / Biju Boro
A partial solar eclipse is seen next to a mosque in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, July 22. AP / Shakil Adil
A Pakistani family watches a partial solar eclipse through a sheet of x-ray film in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, July 22. AP / Shakil Adil
Children watch a solar eclipse through protective glasses outside a planetarium in Taipei on July 22. Taiwanese people gathered at planetariums and parks to observe the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century. AFP / Getty Images / Patrick Lin
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