Partial solar eclipse from Paranal

A group of guides at Paranal Observatory show the image of the partially eclipsed Sun captured from a telescope with special filters and projected on a white screen. With the naked eye, eclipses are difficult — and dangerous — to watch until they reach totality, as the Sun is so bright. However, this is a very safe method to observe a solar eclipse. On 11 July 2010, between 20:15 and 22:51 CEST, the path of a total solar eclipse streaked across the Pacific Ocean touching several small islands including Tuamotu in French Polynesia, Mangaia in the Cook Islands and Chile's Easter Island, ending on the southern mainland of Chile.  The eclipse was seen partially in the rest of the country, including Paranal Observatory, were special public visits were authorised.