June 1, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

SELTJARNARNES (Iceland), May 31: The moon blotted out the sun over the North Atlantic around dawn on Saturday in the region’s biggest eclipse since 1954, but cloud marred the view in Iceland which was best placed for the solar show.

A partial eclipse was visible from Saudi Arabia to Alaska with Iceland, Greenland and the northern tip of Scotland among places with a rare annular eclipse, when the sun is reduced to a bright ring behind the moon.

In Oslo, people clapped and cheered when only a sliver of the sun was visible around the bottom of the moon. “It looks like the sun is smiling,” said Emma, nine, peering through dark glasses.

About 10,000-20,000 people got up early to see the partial eclipse under clear blue skies in a central park in the city.—Reuters