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'Ring of fire' solar eclipse thrills northern hemisphere

Friday, 11 June 2021

The top of the world got a sunrise special Thursday – a “ring of fire” solar eclipse.

This so-called annular eclipse began at the Canadian province of Ontario, then swept across Greenland, the North Pole and finally Siberia, as the moon passed directly in front of the sun late on Thursday night (NZT).

An annular eclipse occurs when a new moon is around its farthest point from us and appearing smaller, and so it doesn’t completely blot out the sun when it's dead centre.

An annular solar eclipse rises over the skyline of Toronto on June 10.
An annular solar eclipse rises over the skyline of Toronto on June 10.

The upper portions of North America, Europe and Asia enjoyed a partial eclipse, at least where the skies were clear.

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A man wears special glasses to watch the partial solar eclipse in Trafalgar Square in London.
A man wears special glasses to watch the partial solar eclipse in Trafalgar Square in London.

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At those locations, the moon appeared to take a bite out of the sun.

A partially eclipsed sun peaks out from behind a cloud as it rises over lower Manhattan in New York, US.
A partially eclipsed sun peaks out from behind a cloud as it rises over lower Manhattan in New York, US.
The sun is partially eclipsed as it sets over the horizon in Beijing on June 10.
The sun is partially eclipsed as it sets over the horizon in Beijing on June 10.
A partial solar eclipse rises behind clouds.
A partial solar eclipse rises behind clouds.
A bird is silhouetted against the sun as the moon blocks part of it during the eclipse.
A bird is silhouetted against the sun as the moon blocks part of it during the eclipse.
A statue of Our Lady, Star Of The Sea on Bull Wall in Dubli, is silhouetted against the sky during the partial solar eclipse.
A statue of Our Lady, Star Of The Sea on Bull Wall in Dubli, is silhouetted against the sky during the partial solar eclipse.
The partial eclipse, as it was seen from lower Manhattan in New York, US.
The partial eclipse, as it was seen from lower Manhattan in New York, US.
A partial solar eclipse rises over the Baltimore skyline in the US.
A partial solar eclipse rises over the Baltimore skyline in the US.

It was the first eclipse of the sun visible from North America since August 2017, when a dramatic total solar eclipse crisscrossed the US.

The next one is coming up in 2024.

A total lunar eclipse also graced the skies two weeks ago.

That lunar eclipse was particularly impressive in New Zealand, where it resulted in a rare blood supermoon.

It was the first time such a spectacle had been seen in Aotearoa in about 40 years.

The lunar eclipse lasted for about five hours in NZ.

More pictures of the “ring of fire” eclipse follow: