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Rare total solar eclipse darkens skies

  • The sun approaches total eclipse in Australia on Nov. 13, 2012 (EST).
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    Rare Total Solar Eclipse Darkens Skies Over Australia, South Pacific

    The sun approaches total eclipse in Australia on Nov. 13, 2012 (EST).
    Panasonic ECLIPSE LIVE by Solar Power
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
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    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
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    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A young boy gets ready to view the solar eclipse with his telescope on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
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    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A young boy gets ready to view the solar eclipse with his telescope on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • The total solar eclipse over Cairns, Australia was photographed by a representative of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission on Nov. 14, 2012 (Nov. 13 EST).
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    Rare Total Solar Eclipse Darkens Skies Over Australia, South Pacific

    The total solar eclipse over Cairns, Australia was photographed by a representative of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission on Nov. 14, 2012 (Nov. 13 EST).
    NASA/SDO
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Near totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
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    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Near totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    7/10

    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    8/10

    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    9/10

    Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds To North Queensland Vantage Points

    PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • Observers set up their gear in anticipation of a total solar eclipse over Australia on Nov. 13, 2012.
    10/10

    Rare Total Solar Eclipse Darkens Skies Over Australia, South Pacific

    Observers set up their gear in anticipation of a total solar eclipse over Australia on Nov. 13, 2012.
    Cairns Eclipse 2012/NASA
The sun approaches total eclipse in Australia on Nov. 13, 2012 (EST).
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A young boy gets ready to view the solar eclipse with his telescope on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The total solar eclipse over Cairns, Australia was photographed by a representative of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission on Nov. 14, 2012 (Nov. 13 EST).
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Near totality is seen during the solar eclipse at Palm Cove on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: Spectators line the beach to view the total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
PALM COVE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 14: A spectator views the solar eclipse through special eclipse viewing glasses on November 14, 2012 in Palm Cove, Australia. Thousands of eclipse-watchers have gathered in part of North Queensland to enjoy the solar eclipse, the first in Australia in a decade. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Observers set up their gear in anticipation of a total solar eclipse over Australia on Nov. 13, 2012.

A rare full solar eclipse plunged north Queensland into darkness for two minutes early on Wednesday, delighting the thousands of people who had gathered on the Australian state's beaches.