Solar Eclipse 2020: Get Ready for the Next Celestial Event

The year 2020 brings good news for all sky-gazers and the astronomy enthusiast, we may be lucky to witness six eclipses – 4 Lunar and 2 Solar, from different parts of the World. We have already seen two lunar eclipses - one of which was visible from India. One lunar eclipse occurred on January 10 and the other one on June 5 which was a penumbral lunar eclipse.

Solar Eclipse 2020: How Solar Eclipse Occur

We all know that Solar and Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and the Earth are aligned in a straight line. When three or more celestial bodies get aligned in a gravitational system, it is called syzygy. During a solar eclipse, the Earth's view of the Sun is blocked by the Moon.

We distinguish annular solar eclipse for its characteristic ring of fire. The Moon gets aligned in such a way that the central part of the Sun gets covered from the Earth's views, leaving only the outer rim, which creates the ring of fire which is also called as an annulus.

Solar Eclipse 2020: Where it is Visible

The first solar eclipse of this year can be viewed on June 21 from parts of Africa, the Central African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia, southern Pakistan, north part of India, and China. The eclipse will be visible from 9:15 am to 3:04 pm IST.

Solar Eclipse 2020: Time and Duration of Eclipse

The Annular Solar Eclipse will begin at 9.15 am, on June 21. At 12:10 pm the total Solar Eclipse will reach its peak and will last till 3:04 pm. The solar eclipse will last for the duration of around six hours.