the Olympic flame began its ceremonial
journey to the site of the Summer Games in London. The flame is being
carried in a relay by some 8,000 torchbearers to spread the message of
peace, unity, and friendship over 70 days until it arrives at the
opening ceremonies on July 27.
A rare annular eclipse - a ring of
sunlight as the new moon, passing between Earth and sun, blocks most,
but not all, of the sun's disc. It is striking to see. Differing from a
total solar eclipse, the moon in an annular eclipse appears too small
to cover the sun completely, leaving a ring of fire effect around the
moon. The eclipse cast its shallow path crossing the West from west
Texas to Oregon then arcing across the northern Pacific Ocean to Tokyo,
Japan.
