A statue of Houyi, a Chinese legendary hero who shot down nine suns with his bow and arrow, is silhouetted against a partial solar eclipse in Changzhi, Shanxi province July 22, 2009. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places. Picture taken with double exposure

Bangladeshis gather to watch the solar eclipse at Panchagarh stadium in Panchagarh, about 344 kilometers (215 miles) north of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

The sun is covered by the moon during a total solar eclipse in the Indian city of Varanasi on July 22. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century plunged millions across Asia into temporary darkness on Wednesday, triggering scenes of religious fervour, fear and excitement in India and China



The moon nearly covers the sun during the solar eclipse in Dhaka on July 22. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century plunged millions across Asia into temporary darkness on Wednesday, triggering scenes of religious fervour, fear and excitement in India and China



A partial solar eclipse is seen in Karachi on July 22. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century plunged millions across Asia into temporary darkness on Wednesday, triggering scenes of religious fervour, fear and excitement in India and China


A partial solar eclipse is seen in Yanguan town, Haining City, China, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday for the longest solar eclipse of this century, a rare event that caused a fatal stampede of viewers on the Ganges River in India

A partial solar eclipse is seen in Sipajhar, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Gauhati, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

A partial solar eclipse is seen in Baihata, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Gauhati, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

A bird resting on the hand of a statue of late Chairman Mao Zedong is silhouetted against a partial solar eclipse in Wuhan, Hubei province July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun. REUTERS/China Daily


REFILE - REFILING WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A statue of Houyi, a Chinese legendary hero who shot down nine suns with his bow and arrow, is silhouetted against a partial solar eclipse in Changzhi, Shanxi province July 22, 2009. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places. Picture taken with double exposure

A partial solar eclipse is seen beside a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the southern Indian city of Chennai July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken despite thick summer clouds

A statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong is silhouetted against a partial solar eclipse in Wuhan, Hubei province July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a solar eclipse as seen in Changsha, Hunan province July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places

A partial solar eclipse silhouettes birds surrounding a minaret of the shrine of Sufi Saint Bah-ud-din Zakria in Multan, Pakistan on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near-darkness after dawn, as millions watched the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon Wednesday

The sun is covered by the moon during a total solar eclipse in the Indian city of Varanasi. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century cast a shadow over much of Asia, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of India and China

A total solar eclipse is seen in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

A partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds over Chinese traditional cornices of Huang He Lou Tower in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

A total solar eclipse is seen from an aircraft over Patna, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near-darkness after dawn, as millions watched the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon Wednesday

A partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near-darkness after dawn, as millions watched the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon Wednesday

REFILE - ADDITIONAL CAPTION INFORMATION The sun emerges behind the moon just after totality during a total solar eclipse in North Iwojima island, Japan July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken despite thick summer clouds

A combination picture shows the sequence of a total solar eclipse as observed in Chongqing municipality July 22, 2009. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places



A Filipino man charts the shadow of the moon during a partial solar eclipse at an observatory in Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near-darkness after dawn, as millions watched the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon Wednesday

A dragonfly flies in the sky during a stage in a total solar eclipse in Seoul July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in the northern Indian city of Varanasi July 22, 2009

A total solar eclipse is seen in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

A partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds above the World Financial Center, right, and the Jinmao Tower, left, in Shanghai, China, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

People stand watching while a solar eclipse turns the city into darkness in the morning in Shanghai, China, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon.


A seal wears sunglasses during a solar eclipse event at Sunshine International Aquarium in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia into near darkness after dawn, as millions gathered to watch the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon on Wednesday. A woman was killed in a stampede at the Ganges river in India where devout Hindus had gathered to watch the eclipse

The diamond ring shines during total solar eclipse observed from a ship sailing near Kita Iwojima, 1,040 kilometers (650 miles) south of Tokyo, Japan, at 11:33 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

The diamond ring shines during total solar eclipse observed from a ship sailing near Kita Iwojima, 1,040 kilometers (650 miles) south of Tokyo, Japan, at 11:26 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon

Local residents watch solar eclipse on the peak of Malu Mountain in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places