Partial solar eclipse to give Malaysia a 'bitten' sun
The total eclipse will be most visible in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, but Malaysians will only be able to see a partial obscuration of the sun.
Dr B. Kuhan Chandru, a research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Space Science Centre, said areas like Kuala Lumpur are expected to see up to 42 per cent of the sun's disk covered.
"The sun will appear as if it has been 'bitten' on the side before it disappears below the horizon," he said.
The phenomenon is expected to begin around 6.52pm, reach its peak at 7.23pm, and end at 7.27pm, depending on the location and the horizon in each area, he added.
He said countries along the path of the total eclipse, such as Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, are expected to experience complete darkness for up to six minutes.
Chandru said the event will still be a rare moment despite the lack of total darkness in Malaysia.
He said the phenomenon presents an opportunity to study how life responds to sudden and extreme environmental changes.
"Animals like birds and insects often change their behaviour during an eclipse, while plants and microorganisms slow down photosynthesis as if preparing for a sudden night," he said.
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