The longest solar eclipse of the century

On July 22, 2009, the moon passed directly in front of the sun, causing a total solar eclipse that crossed nearly half the Earth - through India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. It was visible from a narrow corridor through northern Maldives, northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, northern Philippines, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean, including the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

This was the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, not to be surpassed until June 2132, and lasting as much as 6 minutes and 39 seconds off the coast of Southeast Asia. Despite cloudy skies in many of the populated areas in the path, millions of people gathered outside to gaze up and view this rare event. This was the second in the series of three eclipses in a one-month period, being book-ended by two minor penumbral lunar eclipses, on July 7 and on August 6.

According to some experts, India was expected to be the "best" place to view the event. Collected here are a few images of the eclipse, and those people who came out to watch.

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