It’s the turn of South America to enjoy the spectacle of a total solar eclipse.
Skywatchers in parts of Chile and Argentina saw the Moon pass directly in front of the Sun, blocking out the light for just a few minutes.
It was late in the day, however, and anyone lucky enough to be in the “path of totality” was looking at the event close to the horizon.
The Moon’s great shadow, or umbra, first touched the ocean surface east of New Zealand.
Ships and planes headed out from French Polynesia to witness it.
The first – and only – piece of land in the Pacific to lie in the path of totality is 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).
Passage over the Andes Mountains and through the South American continent was swift. 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.
“You’re completely mesmerised by totality,” says astronomer Patrick McCarthy. (Excerpt from BBC News)
