Solar Eclipse 2021: When, Where, How to Watch the First 'Ring of Fire' This Year

This year's first solar eclipse will occur on June 10. It will be an annular or partial solar eclipse, meaning the Moon will not cover the sun entirely and position itself in a way that the outer edges of the sun will be visible from the Earth. This will create a spectacular “ring of fire” around the Moon. But most people in India will not be able to experience it as the cosmic event will be visible only in parts of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. In most areas, the solar eclipse event will begin at 1:42pm and end at 6:41pm (IST).

Solar Eclipse 2021: Area of visibility

In Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, the annularity phase will begin at 3:30pm and will continue until 4:52pm. The event will conclude completely at 6:41pm.

The event will be visible for sky gazers in its full glory in parts of the eastern US and northern Alaska, along with much of Canada and parts of the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, according to NASA.

The annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth and therefore very small to fully cover the Sun, leaving its edges visible. During an eclipse, all these three celestial bodies are almost in a straight line, but because of the Moon's elliptical path, it doesn't cover the Sun entirely.

NASA has released an interactive map on which Internet users can click to know the timing of visibility in their areas.

Solar Eclipse 2021: Watch it online

People in areas where the eclipse will not be visible can, however, watch it online. NASA will broadcast the cosmic event live on YouTube. You can watch the livestream below:

Solar Eclipse 2021: Precautions to take

It's not advisable to watch a solar eclipse with the naked eye as it can cause serious damage to the eyes. Viewing through a box projector, or projecting using binoculars or a telescope is a safe way to view a solar eclipse. Don't look at the Sun directly or use ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass, X-ray film, and stacks of negative film to view the solar eclipse.

The second and final solar eclipse of 2021 will occur on December 4. That will be a total solar eclipse.