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Spectacular photos of annular solar eclipse over Asia

People observe an annular eclipse at Taipei Astronomical Museum.

No, this isn't the latest Lady Gaga video! These people are watching an annular solar eclipse in Taipei.

The moon slides across the sun, showing a blazing halo of light, during an annular eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

An annular eclipse is where the moon passes in front of the sun, leaving just a ring of light visible. Annular means 'ring-shaped'.

A partial eclipse is seen in Manila.

For an annular eclipse to happen, the Moon has to be at its farthest distance from the Earth, so that it doesn't quite cover up the Sun. That's why this kind of eclipse is so rare.

A dog wears special glasses to view a solar eclipse at Koriyama city in Fukushima prefecture.

Special glasses protect the eyes from the bright light of the sun and should always be worn when watching an eclipse.

Children watch an annular solar eclipse in Fujisawa, near Tokyo.

These children in Japan watched the eclipse take place. It was visible across large parts of Asia and the US.

The stages of the eclipse.

This image shows the eclipse at various stages. The sun turns red as the eclipse ends because it was approaching sunset.

Ring-tailed lemurs look on as children view a solar eclipse at the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama city.

No wonder these lemurs look surprised; they've forgotten to wear their safety specs!

An annular eclipse appears Sunday, May 20, 2012, north of Odessa, Texas.

Here's the eclipse happening above Texas in the US. There hasn't been an annular eclipse there since 1994, and there won't be another until 2023.