“Ring of fire” solar eclipse best view from the Maldives
Eclips in Maldives in 2008 (captured by photographer Muha)
The longest, ring-like solar eclipse of the millennium started on 15 January 2010 Friday , with astronomers saying the Maldives was the best place to view the phenomenon that will not happen again for over 1,000 years. This is the longest solar eclipse of the millennium.
NASA the U.S. space agency said on its website the eclipse was annular, meaning the moon will block most of the sun’s middle, but not its edges, causing it to look like a ring. This blockage will last for 11 minutes, 8 seconds, an annual duration according to NASA and would not be exceeded until 23 December 3043.
According to NASA, the “ring” will be seen in a narrow stretch spanning Central Africa, the Maldives, southern India, northern Sri Lanka, parts of Myanmar and China. In Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, it will be a partial eclipse.
Astronomers said Malé, the capital island of the Indian Ocean island nation the Maldives, will be the best place on land to witness the eclipse as it will last there for over 10 minutes. There was lots of interest for this once in a life time opportunity in the Maldives. People from across the globe travelled to witness this rare event.
The eclipse will follow a 300-kilometre wide route across Africa, the Indian Ocean and eastern Asia, beginning at 10:45am Maldivian time and almost completely overlapping the sun at 12.27pm, creating a stunning ‘ring of fire’ effect that will be visible for almost 11 minutes.
Onboard Louis Cruises’ cruise liner Aquamarine 800 enthusiast chased the event from Kochin to the Maldives. The cruise liner was anchored in the Maldives for the best view on 15th January 2010.
Date: 16 January 2010
