Article Posted on : - Jan 15, 2010

A full solar eclipse.

HYDERABAD (PTI): Besides Friday’s solar eclipse, three more eclipses will occur during 2010.

According to A B G Siddharth, Director, Birla Science Centre here, there will be partial eclipse of the moon on June 26 followed by a total solar eclipse on July 11, this year. The solar eclipse, however, will not be visible in India.

The last eclipse during the year will be on December 21, a total lunar eclipse, which will also be visible from India.

In any given year there are a minimum of two eclipses.

This year, there are in all four eclipses.

Friday’s eclipse will begin at 11.30 am and cover 77 per cent of the sun at 1.32 pm. It will be over by 3.15 pm.

Inclement weather is likely to play spoilsport.

While in Hyderabad, the eclipse will be partial as it covers 77 per cent of the sun, it will be annular at the extreme tip of south near Kanyakumari where one can see the peripheral ring with the sun being covered 92 per cent and a ring like formation will appear.

Siddharth cautioned the people that the eclipse should not be seen with X-ray films or through smoked glasses or photographic films but should be seen only through certified solar eclipse special goggles or certified solar filters.