On January 15th, 2010 Friday, India gets the Annular Solar Eclipse, one of the nature’s best shows. People in most parts of India will witness the partial phases of 15th January Annular Eclipse but they will miss the most important annular phase. From a narrow patch of south
India, the heavenly sight of ‘Ring of Fire’ or annular phase of the eclipse will be visible.
Last time India could see this ‘Ring of Fire’ was on November 22nd 1965 and to see again not before June 21st 2020.

Global Scenario
The annular eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a 300 km wide track that will traverse half of the Earth. The path of the Moon’s shadow begins in Africa at 10:44 IST and passes through Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. After leaving Africa, the path crosses the Indian Ocean where the maximum duration of annularity reaches 11 min 08 s. The central path then continues into Asia through the extreme southern part of India, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), and China. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path including entire India, or Bangladesh.

Safety parameters:
Like Total Solar Eclipse, Viewing an Annular Solar Eclipse is also a life time experience. But, viewing it without proper guidance and precaution can be dangerous for eyes. Sun can cause irreversible and irreparable Retinal blindness inside the observer’s eyes if he observes the sun without filters (this fact is also applicable for un eclipsed sun). Trying to photograph this event without proper filter may badly damage camera and eye. For safe viewing or shooting of the event, we need to have an item that can reduce the sun light to 1/100,000 in all across the spectrum. Contrary to common belief, items like used X-Ray plates, Smoked glass plates, CD, Magnetic disc taken out of floppy or water bath reflecting Sunray are not safe at all.
Instead, standard solar filters sheets (Available but expensive), or Number 14 Welders Glass (Available with Grill Factory equipment sellers) are safe as certified by National Aeronautics and Space Administration of America (NASA) Eclipse Bulletin.
The filters are to be used during entire duration of the annular Eclipse.
Beside these, pin hole camera, telescope projection or Binocular Projection on a screen are absolutely safe.

Public Eclipse Watch from Delhi

Delhi will see the partial phase this solar eclipse it will start at 11:53 IST, The max eclipse of 53% will be at 13:39 IST and the eclipse will end in Delhi at 15:11 IST.

For the citizens of Delhi, The Nehru Planetarium, Teen Murti Bhawan, and The Amateur Astronomers Association Delhi is organizing a special public eclipse watch from the lawns in front of the Nehru planetarium, Teen murti bhawan. Arrangements will be made by the Amateur Astronomers Association and Nehru Planetarium, Where they will setup many telescopes to show this solar eclipse from Delhi. This would be a free of cost public observation and all are welcome to come and watch this beautiful event and give away the superstitions.

For further information contact:
Nehru Planetarium,
Teen Murti Bhavan,
New Delhi-11

Ph#: +91-011-23014504
+91-011-23012994

Or
www.aaadelhi.org , www.nehruplanetarium.org