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Solar eclipse: The best pictures from south-east Asia
Thousands gather to witness the rare natural phenomenon – and capture the moment for ever
Swathes of south-east Asia were a little bit darker this morning due to a rare total solar eclipse. Parts of Indonesia saw the moon completely obscure the sun while areas of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia experienced a partial eclipse.
The eclipse passed through several time zones – including three in Indonesia alone – and was visible across a 8,700-mile span of south-east Asia and the Pacific. Hawaii is due to get the last look at the phenomenon, which will occur shortly before sunset.
Locals and tourists in Palembang, South Sumatra, gathered just after 6am local time to be the first area to witness the sun disappear and the city plunge into daytime darkness.
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An eyewitness on the nearby Belitung Islands told the BBC that the sight was "magical".
Imams across the nation led their congregations through the Salaat al-Kusoof, a prayer specifically intended to be performed during a solar eclipse.
A partial eclipse could also be seen in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, but locals in Perth were disappointed to see merely an edge of the sun vanish:
A Thai legend that says eclipses are caused by a demon named Rahu eating the sun didn't stop the people of Bangkok from setting up their telescopes to get a closer look:
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Nepal and India also experienced a partial eclipse, as seen in this image taken near Kathmandu:
In Malaysia, schoolchildren used special glasses to protect their eyes as they gazed at the phenomenon:
But if you weren't lucky enough to witness the event, don't despair - Nasa captured the exact moment and shared it in stunning clarity in a video clip:
