During his 32nd solar eclipse observation, the Harvard-trained astronomer is to study the elusive coronal ring, the outer atmosphere of the sun, which can only be seen when the moon blots out the solar disk.

CNN: Africa awaits total eclipse of the sun

People in a much larger region of the world can anticipate seeing a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon blocks only a fraction of the sun's disk.

CNN: Africa awaits total eclipse of the sun