The Phases of 2016's Only Total Solar Eclipse (Photo)

Total Solar Eclipse Justin Ng
The total solar eclipse of moves through its phases in this collage taken by astrophotgrapher Justin Ng from Palu, Indonesia on March 9, 2016. (Image credit: Justin Ng/ www.justinngphoto.com )

The total solar eclipse moves through its phases in this collage of images taken by a veteran astrophotographer who ventured to Indonesia in order to capture the amazing view.

Singapore-based photographer Justin Ng took the images from Palu, Indonesia on March 9, using a Canon 7D with 400mm lens, with a DIY solar filter. The total solar eclipse of March 9 was the only total eclipse of the sun in 2016. The "path of totality" was a 90-mile-wide (145 kilometers) strip of land and sea that stretched east across Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and other islands, all the way to Hawaii.

You can see more spectacular photos of the 2016 total solar eclipse here .

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking out the sun for some observers on the ground.

Remember: Never look directly at the sun, even with sunglasses. You can learn the safest ways to observe the sun in this infographic.

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Contributing Writer and Producer

Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.