Solar eclipse darkens sky over Africa

Port-Gentil, Gabon: Despite rain and overcast skies residents of southern Gabon got a glimpse of a total eclipse of the sun, a rare phenomenon also visible in eastern Africa.

"I saw a black disc progressively cover the sun. It's magnificent," said Clarence Diledou, who lives of the port town of Port-Gentil.


The west African nation got peak viewing of the total eclipse as it swept over a path nearly 60km wide.








Families also gathered in the capital Libreville, where the eclipse was less spectacular, but where the skies darkened noticeably for about half an hour from 1330 GMT on Sunday (0300 AEDT on Monday).


Experts say a safe way to view an eclipse is by making a pinhole camera - piercing a tiny hole in a piece of paper then turning your back to the sun and using the pierced page to project the image of the sun on another sheet of paper.