Solar Eclipse on August 2: Will it be visible in India? Full list of cities
A solar eclipse is one of those marvelous phenomena of nature that make us witness moments that can't be seen on usual sunny days. But there's something hauntingly beautiful about a total solar eclipse, especially the one that turns day into night, casting a deep, otherworldly darkness over the land.
For a few rare minutes, the world pauses as the Moon completely covers the face of the Sun, silencing birds, cooling the air, and making the sky feel like twilight. The Sun's glowing corona seems to be no less than a faint bright ring, and its outer atmosphere becomes visible, forming a halo of light that's invisible under normal conditions.
When does a total solar eclipse happen?
When the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a shadow on the Sun's surface at an angle such that the Sun looks completely covered by the Moon when seen from the Earth.
This cosmic dance of the celestial bodies leads to a Total Solar eclipse.
When will the eclipse take place?
On August 2, 2027, the world will witness one such outstanding event. But this isn't just any eclipse; it's being called the 'Great North African Eclipse', and it's expected to last nearly six minutes, making it one of the longest solar eclipses in modern times.
Millions of people will be directly under the Moon's shadow, experiencing total darkness in the middle of the day.
For some, this will be their only chance to see such a long-lasting total solar eclipse in their lifetime.
What makes this eclipse so extraordinary?
This eclipse is special because of it's rare cosmic alignment. The Earth will be at aphelion, or its farthest point from the Sun, making the Sun appear slightly smaller in the sky. At the same time, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger. This combination allows the Moon to block the Sun for a longer period than usual.
What cities can witness it?
This eclipse will be over parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, plunging several cities into total darkness for nearly six minutes. According to Space.com, this duration makes it the longest solar eclipse visible from land until the year 2114.
The path of totality will begin in the Atlantic Ocean, cross through southern Spain and Gibraltar, then move across North Africa, covering countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
From there, it will pass through the Red Sea and enter Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and parts of Somalia. Luxor in Egypt is expected to witness the longest total eclipse duration, over six minutes of complete darkness.
Will the eclipse be visible in India?
Unfortunately, India won't be in the path of totality. However, a partial eclipse will still be visible across most Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. According to TimeandDate.com, people in India can expect to see the eclipse around 4:30 PM IST, with the partial phase lasting until sunset.
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Aspect Lunar eclipse Solar eclipse Occurrence When Earth is between the Sun and the Moon When Moon is between the Sun and the Earth Moon phase Full Moon New Moon Shadow involved Earth's shadow falls on the Moon Moon's shadow falls on the Earth Types Total, partial, penumbral Total, partial, annular Visibility Visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth Visible only from a narrow path on Earth Duration Lasts several hours Lasts a few minutes at any location Appearance Moon darkens and may turn reddish ('blood moon') Sun is partially or fully obscured, 'ring of fire' in annular eclipses Safety Safe to view with naked eye Requires eye protection to view safely Summary of scientific distinctions In summary, lunar eclipses occur when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, while solar eclipses happen when the Moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth. Lunar eclipses are visible over a wide area and last longer, often several hours. Solar eclipses are typically visible only in narrow paths and last for just a few minutes at any given location. Both phenomena are predictable and have been essential to understanding celestial mechanics and the orbits of Earth and the Moon. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
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