Media playback is unsupported on your device
Thousands of skywatchers gathered in South America on Tuesday to witness a rare solar eclipse.
Beginning in the Pacific, the 6,000-mile long band of darkness carved its way across areas of both Chile and Argentina.
The eclipse also made its way across several of the world's most powerful telescopes, all located in the region.
As always, people were urged to take great care during the eclipse. Gazing into the Sun can damage the eyes.
Proper protection is needed, such as the use of approved solar glasses.
The Moon's great shadow, or umbra, first touched the ocean surface east of New Zealand.
The first – and only – piece of land in the Pacific to lie in the path of the eclipse's "totality" was tiny Oeno Island – part of the Pitcairns British Overseas Territory.
This uninhabited atoll was plunged into darkness for nearly three minutes, starting at 10:24 local time (18:24 GMT).
The umbra then reached across to the coast of Chile, near La Serena, arriving at 16:38 local time (20:38 GMT).
Its path stretched out across several parts of Coquimbo in northern Chile, an area known for its dark skies and numerous observatories.
Tickets worth $2,000 (£1,588) each sold out in three minutes for the privilege of watching the eclipse alongside astronomers at the European Southern Observatory, high in the Atacama desert.
The umbra passed swiftly over the Andes mountains and across the continent. Among those last to experience totality were the inhabitants of Chascomús in the district of Buenos Aires at 17:44 local time (20:44 GMT), not long before sunset.
Some of the classic features of a full solar eclipse were on show. These included "Baily's beads," which arise as the last shafts of sunlight drive through valleys on the Moon; and the "Diamond Ring", which is the single brilliant point of light that signals the beginning and end of totality.
"You're completely mesmerised by totality," said astronomer Patrick McCarthy.
"But I have to say, no matter how long it lasts – it feels like eight seconds. You're so completely caught up, you find yourself saying, 'go back, go back; I wasn't done! It all goes by in an instant."
Dr McCarthy watched this event in Chile. He's Vice President of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) facility, which is being built in the Atacama Desert.
The path of totality passed fractionally to the south of the telescope site, and so the astronomer, colleagues and friends took a short drive to make sure they were in just the right spot.
"Going into a tRead More – Source
Media playback is unsupported on your device
Thousands of skywatchers gathered in South America on Tuesday to witness a rare solar eclipse.
Beginning in the Pacific, the 6,000-mile long band of darkness carved its way across areas of both Chile and Argentina.
The eclipse also made its way across several of the world's most powerful telescopes, all located in the region.
As always, people were urged to take great care during the eclipse. Gazing into the Sun can damage the eyes.
Proper protection is needed, such as the use of approved solar glasses.
The Moon's great shadow, or umbra, first touched the ocean surface east of New Zealand.
The first – and only – piece of land in the Pacific to lie in the path of the eclipse's "totality" was tiny Oeno Island – part of the Pitcairns British Overseas Territory.
This uninhabited atoll was plunged into darkness for nearly three minutes, starting at 10:24 local time (18:24 GMT).
The umbra then reached across to the coast of Chile, near La Serena, arriving at 16:38 local time (20:38 GMT).
Its path stretched out across several parts of Coquimbo in northern Chile, an area known for its dark skies and numerous observatories.
Tickets worth $2,000 (£1,588) each sold out in three minutes for the privilege of watching the eclipse alongside astronomers at the European Southern Observatory, high in the Atacama desert.
The umbra passed swiftly over the Andes mountains and across the continent. Among those last to experience totality were the inhabitants of Chascomús in the district of Buenos Aires at 17:44 local time (20:44 GMT), not long before sunset.
Some of the classic features of a full solar eclipse were on show. These included "Baily's beads," which arise as the last shafts of sunlight drive through valleys on the Moon; and the "Diamond Ring", which is the single brilliant point of light that signals the beginning and end of totality.
"You're completely mesmerised by totality," said astronomer Patrick McCarthy.
"But I have to say, no matter how long it lasts – it feels like eight seconds. You're so completely caught up, you find yourself saying, 'go back, go back; I wasn't done! It all goes by in an instant."
Dr McCarthy watched this event in Chile. He's Vice President of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) facility, which is being built in the Atacama Desert.
The path of totality passed fractionally to the south of the telescope site, and so the astronomer, colleagues and friends took a short drive to make sure they were in just the right spot.
"Going into a tRead More – Source
