As you may know, there is going to be an annular solar eclipse on the 21st of this month (June). While it won’t be visible to everyone, those in its path will be in for quite the show.
Sadly, if you’re in the US you won’t be able to see this event in person but if you’re in the Eastern Hemisphere you’re going to be seeing most of it and other areas will be able to see it in partial various degrees. Now, it should be noted that if you are somewhere that it will be visible you should be using proper eye protection when viewing as the sun can damage our eyes even if it’s not as bright as it would be otherwise. This annular solar eclipse’s path is quite narrow but it is present and will be a great sight to see.
Astrology.com wrote as follows explaining this eclipse:
An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far from Earth — or Earth is too close to the Sun — for the Moon to completely cover the Sun’s disk. The upcoming eclipse on June 21 is nearly total, and, as such, it ranks as the third-shortest annular eclipse in the remainder of the 21st century. With annularity at the eclipse’s midpoint lasting 38 seconds, only the events of May 9, 2032, and December 16, 2085, are shorter. (The annular phases of those events last 22 and 19 seconds, respectively.)
Around 13 countries will be experiencing this eclipse according to Astronomy.com that including the Republic of Congo. While viewing will begin at different times for different areas if you’re able to see this event you likely are already aware. Sure, it won’t be as crazy as some of the eclipse’s we’ve faced in the past but it will be mesmerizing nonetheless.
Astronomy.com went on to write as follows:
While over that body of water, the Moon’s antumbra covers Jabal Zuqar, the largest of the Hanish Islands, which are part of Yemen. Annularity at the northern edge of the island lasts 1 minute 2 seconds, while the southern end lies at the edge of the annular path. An observer there — and anywhere along either edge of annularity — will see a lengthy display of Baily’s beads.
The partial phase of the eclipse begins in Yemen at the Red Sea coast at 3h54m51s UT, 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Bayt al-Faqīh. That town will experience 1 minute 5 seconds of annularity. But the place with the easiest access is the capital city of Sana’a, which has 4 million inhabitants and lies only 19 miles (30 km) northwest of the centerline. A quick trip to the Khawlan District will yield 1 minute 4 seconds under the Moon’s antumbra.
As the eclipse progresses through Yemen, the northern extent of the antumbra encounters a tiny part of Saudi Arabia south and east of the border town of Al Wadiah. Although this strip is barely 30 miles (50 km) long, Saudi residents who position themselves on the road at the border crossing could experience up to 37 seconds of annularity.
The eclipse path begins its second trek through Saudi Arabia near the town of Al Kharkhir. For residents there, the annular phase will last 28 seconds, but anyone who travels just 19 miles (30 km) west along Highway 180 can gain an additional 30 seconds. The centerline of the antumbra leaves Saudi Arabia at the Oman border northeast of the village of Ardah at 5h31m07s UT.
The eclipse begins in Oman in a desert region devoid of cities or even small towns. Climate data points to extremely hot, dry days, with the average cloud cover below 5 percent. The country’s capital, Muscat, a city of 1.7 million, lies northwest of the path of annularity. Even so, the residents there will enjoy near-umbral darkness as the Moon covers 98 percent of the Sun’s disk. Venus should stand out well at mid-eclipse.
Southern Asia will also be able to see this event as well and that means lots of people will be able to view it. The annular eclipse itself is always quite short but that doesn’t make it any less worth watching. With it lasting only roughly 1 minute and 22 seconds you could miss a lot with just the blink of an eye.
To learn more about this eclipse take a look at the video below. It should also be mentioned if you’re not able to view it will also be live-streamed for those in other places to see. I for one will be watching from online as I am not where I will be able to see the event in person. You can click here for that.