Here is what the Earth looks like during a solar eclipse. The shadow of the Moon can be seen darkening part of Earth. This shadow moved across the Earth at nearly 2000 kilometers per hour. Only observers near the center of the dark circle see a total solar eclipse; others see a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun appears blocked by the Moon. This spectacular picture of the solar eclipse on August 11, 1999 was one of the last pictures taken from the Mir space station, which was deorbited in a controlled re-entry in 2001.

The photo was taken at 10:13 UTC. The eclipse is located at about 50 degrees N latitude and 05 degrees W longitude, or in the head waters of the English Channel. The two objects visible to the upper left are Saturn and Jupiter.