![See the Year's Only Total Solar Eclipse [PICS]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/066JAaL2uUEu3WPBfZxYQq9/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647021654.jpg)
The only total solar eclipse of 2012 happened today at 3:35 p.m. EST. While it was visible from just a small area in northern Australia, NASA set up its Slooh Space Camera near the city of Cairns and broadcasted the event online.
According to Slooh officials, the eclipse's path of totality -- mostly over the South Pacific Ocean -- was about 108 miles wide and traversed about 9,000 miles over a three-hour period. After leaving Australia, the umbral shadow drifted over the ocean without landfall for the remainder of its track.
A total eclipse happens when the moon overlaps the sun in the sky, blocking our view. The total solar eclipse of 2012 occurred at the Moon's ascending node in central Libra. Today spectators lined Clifton Beach in Australia to catch the eclipse at its maximum duration of totality, which was only 4 minutes, 2 seconds.
