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The upcoming annular solar eclipse on Wednesday, October 2nd, will not be visible from India, as it will occur during the night. The path of annularity, a zone about 250 kilometers wide where the moon appears to completely cover the sun, stretches across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Though the eclipse will be visible in parts of South America, particularly over southern Chile and Argentina, India will be entirely outside the visible path. The eclipse's greatest point, when the moon is farthest from Earth, will occur over the Pacific Ocean, beginning at approximately 11 p.m. IST on October 2nd and ending around 2 a.m. IST on October 3rd.
During an annular eclipse, the moon's position in its orbit places it near its apogee, or the point farthest from Earth, at a distance of 63.6 Earth radii. This positioning creates a unique view of the sun where a bright, thin ring surrounds a dark central hole formed by the moon, with a magnitude of about 0.95 along the central line. This distinctive characteristic is absent in a total solar eclipse, where the moon entirely obscures the sun.
While the event offers a fascinating spectacle for skywatchers, its significance for solar astronomers is somewhat diminished due to the sun's corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, being obscured by the bright ring. The corona's faintness, being a million times dimmer than the visible annulus, renders it invisible during an annular eclipse. Nevertheless, the event holds educational value and will undoubtedly spark curiosity and interest in the scientific community.
In a separate development, a group of rationalists in Bengaluru known as 'Moodhanambike Virodhi Okkoota' will be organizing an event on the steps of Town Hall on Wednesday evening to mark the eclipse. The event, which will commence at 9 p.m., will serve meals to counter the superstitious belief that eating during a solar eclipse is prohibited. This initiative aims to promote scientific understanding and combat misinformation surrounding eclipses.
Source: Wednesday’s annular solar eclipse will not be visible in India