The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century on Wednesday swept across Asia, drawing hundreds of millions of people to the marvelous scene in the sky.

The total solar eclipse cut through the world's most populous nations, India and China, as it travelled half the globe. It was visible along a roughly 250 km-wide (155 miles) corridor, U.S. space agency NASA said.

The visible solar eclipse lasted for six minutes and 43 seconds, the longest in the century, Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

The total solar eclipse first appared in Gulf of Cambay, west Inida, and then the belt of totality went through India,Nepal, Bengal, Bhutan, Myanmar , China and Japan, and it was finally seen in North Cook Island of West Pacific, where the sun set with the solar eclipse, Xinhua said.

The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century on Wednesday swept across Asia, drawing hundreds of millions of people to the marvelous scene in the sky.
Wonderful view of solar eclipse(Fengdong )
The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in North Iwojima Island, Japan July 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Kyodo)
The minaret of a mosque is silhouetted against a partial solar eclipse in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region July 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
Golden invasion (from Go to the Moon to see the solar eclipse)
Light is diffracted on a filter during a partial solar eclipse in Wuhan, Hubei province July 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Double cross ring of solar eclipse (from total solar eclipse)
An aircraft flies pass the sun during a solar eclipse in New Delhi July 22, 2009. (REUTERS/B Mathur)
A boy reacts after getting a glimpse of a partial solar eclipse at Nehru planetarium in New Delhi July 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe)
People look at a partial solar eclipse through eye protection glasses during a solar eclipse viewing event at the Sunshine aquarium in Tokyo July 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao)
Japan India China Solar