Solar Eclipse Takes Over Parts Of South East Asia: In Pics

A total solar eclipse swept across the vast Indonesian archipelago today, witnessed by tens of thousands of sky gazers and marked by parties.

NASA webcast live coverage of the solar eclipse as it happened.

The period of total eclipse, called totality, occurred from 8:38 to 8:42 pm (EST)

The total eclipse was visible mostly in Indonesia, while other parts of South East Asia including India witnessed only partial eclipse.

In India, solar eclipse was witnessed in Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad in the early hours of the morning today.

Total eclipses occur when the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, and the three bodies align precisely.

As seen from Earth, the moon is just broad enough to cover the solar face, creating a breath-taking silver halo in an indigo sky.