Kenyans in Siboloi national park are treated to a rare "hybrid" solar eclipse that swept across the continent yesterday. Its progress can be seen in the photo above. Dramatic weather almost spoiled the show, with sandstorms, rain, a rainbow and heavy cloud all much in evidence minutes before the eclipse.
In the end the phenomenon, which lasted about 10 seconds in Kenya, was partially obscured by cloud. Sky-gazers in Gabon, Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia were also treated to the total eclipse. A partial eclipse was visible to viewers in the United States and Europe. In the eastern US, viewers caught sight of an eclipse lasting 45 minutes close to sunrise. Partial views were also available in Spain, Italy, Greece and Iraq.
The round shape of the earth explains why viewers in Africa saw a total eclipse, while those in the United States and Europe only saw the sun partly obscured. It was called a hybrid eclipse because it was total in some places and partial in others.
Some viewers were given special protective glasses to view the phenomenon so they would not damage their eyes. Experts say a safe way to view an eclipse is by making a pinhole camera to project the sun's image on to paper.