Thousands Watch Solar Eclipse

The solar eclipse in Moscow above a cross of St.Bazil's Cathedral. The eclipse was seen across much of Eastern Europe Friday.
(Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo)




This is the first total solar eclipse seen in China this century. This view is from an observation station in Jinta County of Jiuquan City, in northwest China's Gansu Province.
(Han Chuanhao, Xinhua/AP Photo)



A "rishi," which means "eaten sun" in Chinese, can be seen above visitors at the Jiayuguan Fort on the Great Wall of China in the town of Jiayuguan, Gansu Province. Eclipses were dangerous omens for ancient Chinese astronomers; this one comes exactly a week before the torch is lit in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
(David Gray / Reuters)




The partial solar eclipse is seen through the telescope of the observatory at the University of Applied Science in Kiel, Northern Germany.
(Kieler Planetarium e.V./AP Photo)




A rare solar eclipse darkened parts of Canada, Russia, Eastern Europe and China on Aug. 1. A man and his camel walk past as the sun is blocked by the moon during a solar eclipse in Gaotai, Gansu Province, China.
(Aly Song / Reuters)