Total solar eclipse will occur on March 9; India to mostly witness partial eclipse

New Delhi, March 3: Come March 9 (Wednesday) and this planet will witness a total solar eclipse. However, in India, the rare celestial phenomenon will be seen partially from most places except the western and north-western parts.

The total eclipse will begin at 5.47 am IST and will continue till 9.08 am. The partial phase will conclude at 10.05 am.

Sources in the Ministry of Earth Sciences said in an official statement that the beginning of the partial phase would occur just after sunrise from the extreme noth-eastern part of India, a Times of India report said. The duration of the partial eclipse would lengthen as one moves towards the the east, the sources added.

The obscuration of the sun by the moon at the time of greatest phase of the partial eclipse will be: 15 per cent in Agartala, 24.5 per cent in Bhubaneswar, 18.5 per cent in Kolkata, 12 per cent in Patna, 11 per cent in Guwahati, 49 per cent in Port Blair and 12 per cent in Silchar, the report added.

Most places of India to see a solar eclipse except west & north-west

The complete eclipse of the sun would be seen in a narrow stretch in the northern henisphere. The path would pass through countries like Sumatra (Indonesia), Borneo, and the North Pacific Ocean.

Ministry warns against seeing with naked eyes

The ministry also issued warning against viewing the eclipse with naked eyes even for a short time as it could damage the eyes permanently.

It advised viewing the phenomenon by using filters like aluminized mylar, black polymer, welding glasses of shade No. 14 or by making projection of the sun's image on a white board, the report said.

Oneindia News