2020 solar eclipse or Surya Grahan it’s here. Skywatchers across India will witness the rare annular solar eclipse today. While the partial solar eclipse will be visible across the country, the best visibility of the eclipse or maximum eclipse will be limited to a narrow stretch covering parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Ring eclipses are known for their “ring of fire” that is shown as the Moon as it passes between Earth and the Sun is not close enough to our planet to completely cover sunlight. Astronomers call today’s eclipse “the most dramatic solar eclipse in the ring of fire” in years.
Solar eclipse times 2020 – India
According to NASA, today’s solar eclipse will begin at 9:15 a.m. IST and will end at 4:04 p.m. The maximum eclipse time is set at 12:10 p.m., this is when you will be able to see that beautiful ring of fire. So the solar eclipse will last less than seven hours.
Solar eclipse 2020 visibility, the magnitude of the eclipse
As mentioned, although people across the country will be able to witness this celestial event, the best visibility of this remarkable solar eclipse will be limited to a very narrow path. This narrow path as shown in the following NASA map will see the magnitude of the eclipse of 0.9940, while the more you move from this narrow path, the magnitude of the eclipse will decrease.
Fortunately, all of northern India and parts of eastern and western India will see the magnitude of the eclipse at around 0.80. For southern India, the magnitude will drop to between 0.30 and 0.70. The magnitude of the eclipse is basically defined as the fraction of the diameter of the Sun hidden by the Moon. The greater the magnitude, the more area of the Sun is covered. The magnitude of the eclipse is always between 0 and 1, therefore, total solar eclipses have a magnitude of 1.
Live stream of the solar eclipse 2020
Even if you don’t live near a place with the best eclipse magnitude or have weather issues, you can still enjoy the Surya Grahan (solar eclipse) through webcasts. Among the live broadcasts of the solar eclipse from India, the Aryabhatta Observational Science Research Institute will broadcast the eclipse from Nainital. Although the institute is not on the best visibility route, it is close enough to offer a good view.
According to the institute, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:25 a.m. at Nainital and will end at 1:54 p.m. The maximum eclipse will be visible at 12:08 pm. The live broadcast will begin at 10 am. The institute will use a 15 cm solar telescope with an H-alpha filter.
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics will also organize a live broadcast of today’s solar eclipse. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. IST.
The Virtual Telescope Project will also host a live stream of today’s eclipse, thanks to several international contributors based in Africa and Asia. The live broadcast will begin at 11 a.m.
How to properly look at a solar eclipse or Surya Grahan
Unlike lunar eclipses that can be seen with the naked eye, solar eclipses require precautions; otherwise, it could damage your eyes.
- Astronomers recommend using eclipse glasses, preferably with ISO certification, or a camera with the appropriate filters to observe the solar eclipse. You can also project onto a screen using a pinhole camera or telescope.
- Do not look at the solar eclipse directly with the naked eye or using X-ray film / normal sunglasses / painted glass.
When is the next annular solar eclipse that will be visible from India?
The next annular solar eclipse, which will be visible from India, will occur on May 21, 2031, while a total solar eclipse will be seen on March 20, 2034.
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She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.