When the moon gets between Earth and the sun and completely covers it, it causes a ‘total solar eclipse’. The eclipse then casts a shadow over Earth making it appear dark, even during daytime. However, during the ‘annular solar eclipse’, some part of the sun remains uncovered, causing a ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse.
According to NASA, an annular eclipse happens when the moon is farthest from Earth. Since it seems smaller due to its distance from Earth, it does not block the entire view of the sun. It appears like a small disk covering a ball of fire. And that’s how we are able to see the ring of fire around the moon.
Last year, the world witnessed an annular eclipse on December 26. However, this year, we are to witness this magnificent sight tomorrow i.e. on June 21.
When can we witness it?
According to Firstpost, the second solar eclipse of 2020 will first be visible in Bhuj, Gujarat at around 9:58 am IST and will be last seen by people in Dibrugarh, Assam at 2:29 pm IST. The phase of annularity will begin around 11:49 am IST and end at 11:50 am IST. And within this one minute, people can be able to witness the ring of fire.
While people in Rajasthan, Haryana, Dehradun and Uttarakhand can see the ring, most parts of the country including Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru will be able to see the eclipse partially, reported Zee News.
NASA has advised people to never look directly at the sun. It can cause permanent damage to our eyes. If you wish to see the eclipse, it is advisable to wear sunglasses with UV protection.
Skywatchers can also follow the path of the eclipse using the NASA tracker. You can also watch the eclipse virtually. The next eclipse will be seen in India on October 25, 2022.