Solar Eclipse 2021: The 'ring of fire' Solar Eclipse was visible in the Far North, details here
The first Solar Eclipse or Surya Grahan of 2021 took place on Thursday. In India, a partial eclipse was visible only in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. People in parts of northeastern United States, Canada, Greenland, northern Europe and Siberian Russia witnessed the partial eclipse. The dramatic 'ring of fire' or annular Solar Eclipse occured only far north in the polar region. A Solar Eclipse happens when the Moon directly moves between the Sun and Earth. An annular Solar Eclipse takes place when the Moon moves right in front of the Sun, blocking it, except for a ring around the edges, and this creates the 'ring of fire' look. The next eclipse will take place on November 19. It will be a Lunar Eclipse and the last one of the year will occur on December 4.
The entire 'ring of fire' Solar Eclipse lasted for about 100 minutes. It started at sunrise in Ontario in Canada. The eclipse moved towards the polar regions. The greatest eclipse was visible in northern Greenland at its local time. The path of the annular eclipse crossed the Earth's North Pole. The annular Solar Eclipse ended at sunset over northeastern Siberia. The 'ring of fire' lasted a maximum of 3 minutes 51 seconds in the path of annularity.
Solar Eclipse 2021: Highlights and images
During the total eclipe, the horizon is "illuminated in a narrow band of light, because an observer is seeing distant localities not under the direct umbra of the Moon's shadow," according to NASA.
The width of the path of totality during a Solar Eclipse is at most 167 miles, according to NASA.
A total Solar Eclipse is happens only when the Sun is covered by more than 90 per cent of the Moon's shadow and the daytime appears like twilight.
Do you know how the annular Solar Eclipse gets its name? The astronomical event derives its name from the Latin 'annulus', meaning 'ring'.
The Moon is an average of 238,855 miles away from Earth, which is about 30 Earths away, says the NASA. The distance of the Moon is an important factor in the 'ring of fire' eclipse.
The spot which enjoys the longest eclipse - almost four minutes - is in the middle of the Nares Strait, that divides the Canadian archipelago from Greenland, says a BBC article.
According to the NASA, total Solar Eclipses happen about once every 1.5 years.
The annular phase or 'ring of fire' will last a maximum of 3 minutes 51 seconds in the path of annularity.
According to the NASA, partial Solar Eclipses can be seen up to 3,000 miles from the track of total eclipse or totality.
The Solar Eclipse begins some 210 kilometre north of Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada
A Solar Eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a Lunar Eclipse and usually there are two eclipses in a row.
In 2021, there are four eclipses - two Lunar and two Solar Eclipses.
The Sun is surrounded by the corona or the outermost part of the solar atmosphere. It is usually hidden by the bright light of the Sun but scientists can see it with special instruments. However, the corona can be seen during a total Solar Eclipse, according to NASA.
You may think online viewing is nothing compared to the experience of watching an eclipse, and that too an annular Solar Eclipse, where it's happening but you can also enjoy watching together with friends and family! Happy viewing!
Eclipse shadows travel at 1,100 miles per hour at the equator and up to 5,000 miles per hour near the poles: NASA
If you are NOT watching the Solar Eclipse online, you must wear special protective glasses. You should not look at the Sun directly, even if it is an annular or partial eclipse, say experts.
The greatest eclipse will be visible in northern Greenland at its local time. But anyone can watch it online. Scroll down and you will find a live link.
The entire 'ring of fire' Solar Eclipse will last for about 100 minutes.
During an annular eclipse when the Sun and Moon are aligned exactly in a straight line with the Earth, but the apparent size of the Moon is much smaller than that of the Sun, a 'ring of fire' effect is created.