Andrew Kirk of Independenc e used a smoked glass to see the beautiful ring.

The “ring of fire” eclipse wowed those who looked to the setting sun on Sunday.  Many in the Eastern Sierra did get a rare view of an occasional phenomenon.

Martin Kleinbard of Mammoth Lakes got inventive with a shipping tube to focus the image.

The moon nearly blotted out the sun between 6:30 and 7:00 pm Sunday.  Millions around the world saw the annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun and leaves a bright ring around the edges.

Of course, one can not look directly at the sun without eye damage, so eager viewers used all kinds of ways to see the evolving eclipse.  Some used welding glass, others saw images through shipping tubes.

At home and along the highway, eager sky watchers could be seen trying in their various ways to experience a heavenly happening.