NASA has released a high quality video of the solar eclipse this week for the benefit of space buffs living in North America who were not able to witness it first-hand. The four-minute clip shows the rare celestial phenomenon in its totality.
Millions of people in the Pacific were treated to a breathtaking event on Tuesday and Wednesday when the moon moved in between the Earth and the sun and casted a giant shadow on the planet.
The solar eclipse was most visible in Indonesia, especially on the island of Belitung, where hundreds of people coming from places as far as Europe and Australia gathered on Olivier beach to catch a glimpse of the moon's transit.
Those who were not able to make the trip to the Pacific this week to see the celestial event can watch it in its entirety through NASA's video posted on YouTube.
The clip picks up as the moon assumed the shape of the sun, effectively blocking its rays. It stayed in front of the massive ball of fire for a good four minutes before starting to move away and letting the sun's rays shine through again.
Wilma, one of the viewers present on Belitung Island who traveled all the way from Holland, said that she has already witnessed five solar eclipses in her lifetime.
When the moon made its way in front of sun, she said that she was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and that she didn't hear a sound around her. Seeing another solar eclipse was still a magical experience for this veteran solar eclipse hunter.
People on the beach cheered at first when the solar eclipse began but then they became all quiet as they witnessed the rare phenomenon occur. Some took photographs of the event while others simply watched in amazement as the eclipse unfolded. They then clapped quietly as the moon started to move away from the sun's view.
Meanwhile, passengers onboard the Alaska Airlines Flight 870 also got a rare view of the total solar eclipse from several thousand feet in the air.
The flight from Anchorage in Alaska to Honolulu in Hawaii was intentionally delayed for about 25 minutes after one of the passengers, astronomer Joe Rao, discovered that its course coincided with the path of the solar eclipse. Alaska Airlines agreed to the change in flight schedule, allowing the people on the aircraft to see the event occur.
"We recognize our customers' passions," Chase Craig, director of onboard brand experience for Alaska Airlines, said.
"Certainly we can't change flight plans for every interest, but this was a special moment, so we thought it was worth it. Now we have a plane full of customers who will be treated to a special occurrence."
