Rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse witnessed in Pakistan

(Karachi) Pakistan witnessed its first "ring of fire" solar eclipse on Sunday, media reported. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon covers the sun's centre, leaving the sun's visible outer edges to form a 'ring of fire' or annulus around the moon".

As per details, the solar eclipse started at 9:20 am across the country, and at approximately 10:59 am, the moon completely eclipsed the sun. It would end at about 12:46 pm

اس سال چھ گرہن ہونے ہیں، چار چاند گرہن اور دو سورج گرہن۔اس سال کا دوسرا گرہن 14 دسمبر کو ہو گا لیکن وہ پاکستان میں نہیں دیکھا جا سکے گا۔ آج مکمل سورج گرہن سکھر اور اس کے گردو نواح میں ہے باقی علاقوں میں جزوی گرہن ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 21, 2020

It was partially visible in some cities across the country, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, Gwadar and Muzaffarabad. However, Sukkur witnessed the annular eclipse in almost its entirety — with a solar coverage of 98.78 percent.

Gilgit had the least solar coverage in the eclipse, at 74.88 percent. Apart from Pakistan, the solar eclipse was also be visible in parts of Europe, Africa — including the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia — as well as India and China.

In a tweet, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Hussain said that this year, four lunar eclispses and two solar eclipses will occur. He added, "The second eclipse of the year will take place on December 14 but it will not be visible in Pakistan."

He maintained that a complete solar eclipse is visible in Sukkur and its adjoining areas while a partial eclipse occurred in other parts.