The Astronomers

It was a once-in-a-millennium event on Friday when an annular solar eclipse plunged parts of Asia and Africa into partial darkness. The record-breaking eclipse, lasting 11 minutes, 8 seconds, will be the longest annular one until December 23, 3043, Reuters reported. According to astronomers, the best place to see the eclipse was in the Maldives, where it lasted the longest. An annular eclipse is when the moon passes in front of the sun, but does not completely block it, leaving a glaring ring of light.