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"Ring of Fire" Eclipse 2012

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Hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)

Hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)

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  • Hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)
  • A partial annular solar eclipse is seen over Beijing, China, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
  • The annular eclipse seen from Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/The Albuquerque Journal, Greg Sorber)
  • The moon slides across the sun, showing a blazing halo of light, during an annular eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
  • An annular solar eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Chandler, Ariz. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Matt York)
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Avalanche-Journal, Zach Long) ALL LOCAL TV OUT
  • A passenger jet flies above an annular solar eclipse Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Irving, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
  • An annular solar eclipse appears during a break in clouds over Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 21, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
  • An annular solar eclipse appears above a Ferris wheel in the sky over Yokohama near Tokyo Monday, May 21, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
  • A partial annular solar eclipse appears through construction scaffoldings in Beijing, China, Monday, May 21, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
  • An annular solar eclipse occurs as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun as partially seen at sunrise Monday, May 21, 2012, from the coastal township of Gumaca, Quezon province, 187 kilometers (116 miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
  • The annular solar eclipse is seen in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
  • Security cameras are silhouetted near a partial annular eclipse in Beijing, China, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
  • A partial annular solar eclipse is seen through construction scaffoldings in Beijing, China, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
  • Solar eclipse of Sunday, May 20, 2012, seen from downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, David Kent) MAGS OUT
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, north of Odessa, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Odessa American, Albert Cesare)
  • The new moon casts its shadow as it passes across the setting sun over West Mitten Butte during an annular eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Monument Valley, Ariz. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
  • CORRECTS OBJECT NAME - An annular solar eclipse occurs as the moon passes between the earth and the sun as partially seen at sunrise Monday, May 21, 2012, from coastal township of Gumaca, Quezon province, 187 kilometers (116 miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
  • Hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow)
  • The sun sets between the grain elevators in Abbyville, Kan., during an annular eclipse Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Hutchinson News, Travis Morisse)
  • The new moon crosses in front of the sun creating an annular eclipse over West Mitten, left, and East Mitten buttes, Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Monument Valley, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
  • The new moon casts its shadow as it passes across the setting sun over West Mitten Butte during an annular eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Monument Valley, Ariz. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
  • An annular eclipse is seen at 6:36 p.m. PST over Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The eclipse was visible in the western United States and parts of Asia. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States.(AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jessica Ebelhar)
  • An eclipse starts to take form over Lubbock, Texas, Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Zach Long)
  • A thundershower rolls through as an annular solar eclipse appears in Gardnerville, Nev., on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)
  • The moon begins to partially block the sun as the sun sets at 8:02 p.m. silhouetting a crane just west of downtown Houston during a rare solar eclipse known as the 'ring of fire' Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Houston. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Johnny Hanson)
  • CORRECTS OBJECT NAME - An annular solar eclipse occurs as the moon passes between the earth and the sun as partially seen at sunrise Monday, May 21, 2012, from coastal township of Gumaca, Quezon province, 187 kilometers (116 miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
  • An annular solar eclipse is partially seen at sunrise Monday, May 21, 2012, from the coastal township of Gumaca, Quezon province, 187 kilometers (116 miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
  • The peak of the solar eclipse Sunday evening May 20, 2012, is seen from through the coastal marine layer on the hillside of the UC Irvine Observatory in Irvine, Calif. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Mark Rightmire ) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT
  • PORTLAND, OREGON - May 20, 2012 - The Ring of Fire eclipse, with the moon coverinf 87 percent of the sun, is seen over Portland, Ore., Sunday May 20, 2012. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Fred Cathcart ) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; THE MERCURY OUT; WILLAMETTE WEEK OUT; PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP OUT
  • The annular eclipse appears in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Randy Pench) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
  • West Mitten, left, and East Mitten buttes are silhouetted against the last light from the setting sun after the Ring of Fire eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Monument Valley, Ariz. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Fresno, Calif. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Fresno Bee, John Walker)
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, north of Odessa, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Odessa American, Albert Cesare)
  • The sun sets between the grain elevators in Abbyville, Kan., during an annular eclipse Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Hutchinson News, Travis Morisse)
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Roswell, N.M. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Roswell Daily Record, Mark Wilson)
  • An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, near Cadillac Ranch, Texas. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Amarillo Globe News, Michael Schumacher)
  • Mickey Schaertl views an annular solar eclipse from Kanarraville, Utah on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/The Spectrum, Samantha Clemens)
  • A South Korean astronomy student uses special sunglasses to observe an annular solar eclipse in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
  • Ze De Boni, right, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, shows his wife, Anita Malzoni, left, and guide David Clark watch the last shadow of the annular eclipse as he shoots photographs of it, Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Monument Valley, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
  • Michael Garwood of Las Vegas gets a look at the annular eclipse in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jessica Ebelhar)
  • Gary Wilens, right, of Rancho Santa Margarita, cal;if., takes a photo of the solar eclipse through a special filter at the UC Irvine Observatory in Irvine, Calif. ,Sunday evening May 20, 2012. Hundreds gathered Sunday evening at the observatory for the event. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, ) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT
  • Hundreds gathered Sunday evening May 20, 2012, at the UC Irvine Observatory in Irvine, Calif. to view the solar eclipse shown here projected on a board from a telescope. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Mark Rightmire) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT
  • Gael Nguyen, a graduate student in physics at UC Irvine, view the solar eclipse along with hundreds of other viewers gathered Sunday evening May 20, 2012, at the UC Irvine Observatory in Irvine, in Calif. The western United States watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Mark Rightmire ) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT
  • People watch the annular solar eclipse in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
  • Children watch an annular solar eclipse in Fujisawa, near Tokyo Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare 'ring of fire' eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular solar eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent Monday morning. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Skywatchers from Mount Fuji to the Grand Canyon enjoyed a treat: the moon nearly blotting out the sun to create a dramatic 'ring of fire' over a narrow strip of eastern Asia and the western United States.

The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible in Asia early Monday. It then moved across the Pacific - and the international dateline - and was seen in parts of the western United States Sunday afternoon.

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