Annular solar eclipse put on a show over Africa and Asia
UPDATE: See pictures and read Editor David J. Eicher's firsthand report of this morning's eclipse.
By
Michael E. Bakich —
Published:
January 11, 2010 A ring of sunlight (center) remains visible at the peak of an annular solar eclipse. This sequence shows the October 2005 eclipse from start (top left) to finish (bottom right). Observers in parts of Africa and Asia will see such an eclipse January 15.
Photo by David Tyler and Damian Peach
January 11, 2010
At 7 p.m. EST January 2, Earth reached perihelion — the closest point to the Sun during its yearly orbit. At perihelion, Earth lies 91.4 million miles from the Sun, some 3.1 million miles closer than at its farthest point in early July.
Earth's proximity to the Sun in January causes our star to appear slightly larger in the sky. This contributes to one of the year's more impressive events: an annular solar eclipse. On the 15th, the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth. But the relatively small Moon on that date fails to cover the big Sun, leaving a ring (annulus) of sunlight visible at maximum.
Observers will see this annular eclipse along a narrow path that begins in central Africa and then treks across the Indian Ocean, through southern India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and, ultimately, China. Viewers in much of Africa, eastern Europe, and Asia will witness a partial eclipse. Be sure to use an approved solar filter to directly view the eclipsed Sun.
The last annular eclipse occurred roughly 1 year ago, January 26, 2009. The next one will happen May 20, 2012.
Editor David J. Eicher will witness the eclipse from Kenya. Learn more about his trip here and follow his adventures on Twitter @AstronomyMag.
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Additional eclipse information
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