One of the more unusual astronomical events was visible in skies around China this morning; a total eclipse of the moon.

The moon began moving into the earth's shadow shortly before 3:00 AM Beijing time and soon became fully eclipsed.

The darkness of the eclipse also made it possible to see the flashes of light created by a meteor shower.

It has been three years since the event was last seen in the country and will be another three years before it is repeated.

(CRI May 5, 2004)