The annular solar eclipse today will be visible from Nainital, Dehradun, New Tehri, Joshimath, Chamoli and Gopeshwar in Uttarakhand. Amidst preparations for observation of this interesting phenomenon, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital, director Deepankar Banerjee said that the eclipse will begin at 10:25 AM and reach 95 per cent at 12:08 in Nainital. He said that the annular eclipse is especially interesting to observe as the moon covers the sun’s face but leaves the outer edges visible which form a ‘ring of fire’. This annular eclipse will be visible across a narrow path of 21 kilometres on the earth. In Uttarakhand, it will be visible from Dehradun, New Tehri, Joshimath, Chamoli and Gopeshwar where it will reach 99 per cent. Scientist Shashi Bhushan Pande said that the solar eclipse takes place when the earth, moon and sun are aligned in a straight line and the moon comes between the sun and the earth. Solar eclipse is of four types- partial, annular, total and hybrid.
He further informed that ARIES will be using four telescopes to observe the annular eclipse on Sunday. The institute will also broadcast the eclipse for the general public on Zoom, You Tube and Facebook.
He stressed that the eclipse should not be watched with naked eyes or through a camera but only through x-ray film.
Only binoculars with filters and special specs made for this purpose should be used to view the eclipse.
The next annular solar eclipse will be seen after a gap of 11 years, he added.