The solar eclipse of 15th January, 2010 will be the century’s longest eclipse, having a totality duration of 11 minutes, 8 seconds (visible in India for 10 minutes, 24 seconds). It starts at 10:44 AM IST (5:14 AM GMT) and ends at 2:29 PM IST (8:59 AM GMT). This is an annular eclipse, that is the apparent diameter of the Moon is slightly smaller than the apparent size of the Sun. Thus at totality (when the entire disc of the Moon covers the Sun), the Sun forms a bright ring (or “annulus”, hence the name) around the Moon.
The eclipse can be best seen in India in the town of Dhanushkodi at the southern tip of Rameshwaram.
Here is how the eclipse will look at totality near Dhanushkodi:
Following this are the scenes of maxima in the major cities of India:
Delhi
Bombay
Calcutta
Bangalore
Chennai
Do not stare at the sun during the eclipse. This is not granny wisdom. It is science.
