On August 11, some parts of the world will be witnessing the partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will last for around 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Out of three solar eclipses scheduled to take place in 2018, this one will be the last one.
When and where will the partial solar eclipse be visible?
- The partial solar eclipse will be visible at around 1:32 pm during day-time till 5:02 pm in the evening
- According to scientists, India will not be able to witness it while it will be visible across major parts of the Northern Hemisphere
- NASA has created a Goddard Space Flight Centre (GSFC) map
According to GSFC map created by scientists from NASA, partial solar eclipse 2018 will be seen over North Pole and eastern parts of Siberia.
- People living in these regions will be able to witness 65 per cent of the partial solar eclipse
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What is a partial solar eclipse?
An eclipse is a celestial phenomenon in which the moon does not completely hide the solar surface as a result of which, some direct rays reach the Earth.
- It occurs when Sun, Moon and Earth are lined up straight
- In a solar eclipse, Moon obstructs the path of Sun and terminates the sunlight from reaching the Earth
HOWEVER, WHEN MOON COVERS A CERTAIN PORTION OF SUN AND NOT A LARGE PART OF SUN, IT IS KNOWN AS A PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.
How is partial solar eclipse different from total solar eclipse?
In a total solar eclipse, Moon moves between Sun and Earth, blocking out Sun’s rays and casting a shadow on parts of the Earth.
- This hides the sun completely for some time
- In a partial solar eclipse, Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly lined
- Moon only partially obscures Sun’s disk and only casts its penumbra (partial illumination) on it
What precautions are to be taken during the eclipse?
- According to many experts, one should not watch solar eclipse with bare eyes
However, specific glasses to watch it are available in the market through which one can experience this natural phenomenon without damaging eyes.
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Myths about the Solar Eclipse:
It is suggested by several Ayurvedic experts to perform various religious activities like taking baths in sacred rivers and performing charitable acts during solar eclipse.
Not only this, it is even believed by some people that one should avoid eating, sleeping having sexual intercourse during the eclipse — especially for pregnant women.
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