Sky watchers in Japan watched the ring solar eclipse (AAP)
Sky watchers in parts of Asia have glimpsed an annular solar eclipse as the moon passed in front of the sun today.
Sky watchers in Asia have glimpsed a rare annular solar eclipse as the moon passed in front of the sun.
The annular solar eclipse was been seen briefly during a break in clouds over Taipei, Taiwan.
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 east Asia on Monday morning.
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Special darkened glasses were selling out in Japan last week as anticipation built ahead of the "ring" solar eclipse.
The greater Tokyo area, home to more than 30 million people, was expected to be a prime spot to see the event, which has not been visible in the capital for 173 years.
Eclipse-viewing glasses were flying off the shelves and television stations were planning live broadcasts amid stark warnings not to look directly at the sun.
One of the most ambitious projects to mark the moment was being mounted by electronics giant Panasonic, which had sent an expedition to the top of Mount Fuji to film the phenomenon using solar-powered equipment.
The path of the eclipse was expected to span a 240 to 300 kilometre-wide track across eastern Asia, the northern Pacific Ocean and the western US, the US space agency said.
The eclipse began at sunrise in southern China and travelled eastward to the southern coast of Japan, NASA said.
According to historical data, China and Japan are likely to be swathed in cloud at the time of the eclipse.
