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The only total solar eclipse of the 21st century took place today, sweeping over a small portion of the world, and it was only a few eclipse chasers who could see it.
The solar eclipse began at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Less than two minutes of totality was included. The last time was at 3:06 a.m. According to NASA. The space agency broadcasted live views of the eclipse from the point where scientists Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood were observing it in Union Glacier. There are amazing photos of the total solar eclipse from Antarctica here.
When a new moon passes in front of the sun, a small band of Earth falls into the moon's shadow. The total eclipse swept across the National Science Foundation's Palmer Station and in partial phase across the larger McMurdo Station.
There are 8 most famous solar eclipses in history.
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The picture shows scientists looking at a solar eclipse from the Union Glacier in Antarctica. Felipe Trueba is the photographer for the photo.
The total solar eclipse of 2021 begins in this still from a video captured by Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood. Theo Boris/Christian Lockwood/JM Pasachoff are pictured.
The moment of totality from the total solar eclipse of December 4, 2021, can be seen by Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood of the JM Pasachoff Antarctic expedition. Theo Boris/Christian Lockwood/JM Pasachoff are pictured.
The "diamond ring" effect was created when the sun peeked back out from behind the moon. Theo Boris/Christian Lockwood/JM Pasachoff are pictured.
After totality, the moon continued on its path across the face of the sun, exposing a crescent sun by Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood from their observing point in Union Glacier. Theo Boris/Christian Lockwood/JM Pasachoff are pictured.
The moon passes in front of the sun in the only total solar eclipse of 2021. Theo Boris/Christian Lockwood/JM Pasachoff are pictured.
Emperor penguins were likely the biggest group of viewers. It's not possible to say how many of them saw a total view of the eclipse. The 2020 estimate from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggests there are up to 650,000 individuals in the region.
The show was expected to be seen by a few people from the air. Two scenic flights were scheduled to leave from Santiago, Chile and from Melbourne, Australia to take a quick glimpse of totality, but at an expensive price for passengers. The price on the opportunity ranged from $6,500 to $9,100 per row of three seats.
The population count of humans who saw the solar eclipse jump if we consider partial phases, where the moon took a bite out of the sun. The southernmost regions within Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa were able to see a small shadow of the lunar disk moving over the sun.
The only other large population who got to see the eclipse were virtual viewers in the NASA and the JM PasachoffAntarctic expedition, which captured stunning views of the total solar eclipse from Union Glacier.
The next total solar eclipse will be visible to a much larger human population, unless we count the penguins. According to NASA's eclipse site, that eclipse will pass over south and east Asia. A hybrid solar eclipse will occur, in which it transitions into a total solar eclipse while some regions see an "ring of fire" solar eclipse.
The next partial solar eclipse will be visible from the southeastern Pacific Ocean and parts of South America on April 30, 2022. On October 25, 2022, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Europe, northeast Africa, the Mideast and western Asia.
The next solar eclipse will be visible from North America, South America and Central America, and will occur on April 8, 2024.
Our guide on how to photograph a solar eclipse safely can be used to prepare for those eclipses. If you want to prepare for the next solar eclipse, you need the best gear, and we have the best cameras and lens for that.
Space.com's readers would like to see your solar eclipse photo, so send it to spacephotos@space.com with your name and location.
The time of totality for the solar eclipse was misstated. The time was 2:44 a.m. It's not 2:33 a.m. The time is after 11 pm.
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