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Information on Annular Solar eclipse |Solar Eclipse Theory | How to observe the eclipse safely | Images
Annular Solar Eclipse January15, 2010. Observed from Arachchikattuwa, Sri Lanka
After 55 years an annular solar eclipse will be visible to Sri Lanka on 15th January 2010. The occurrence of an annular solar eclipse is very rare phenomenon since the maximum number of solar eclipses (partial, total and annular) never exceeds 5 per year. The total solar eclipse can be seen if the observer lies within the umbral shadow. The diameter of the umbral shadow is about 330 km on the earth surface which makes a lower probability to occur a total or annular solar eclipse in such a small country like Sri Lanka. The next annular solar eclipse will be seen to Sri Lanka on 26th December 2019. This means the upcoming annular solar eclipse is a very valuable opportunity to experience such a spectacular natural phenomenon. The eclipse begins in Africa and streams through Sri Lanka to China leaving the central line of the solar eclipse close to Jaffna. This makes an opportunity to see the annularity of the eclipse in northern part of the country while the southern part can see as a partial eclipse. For best locations see the map.
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The locations lie on the red line (central line) experience the longest time period (10m 10s) of the annular eclipse and the eclipse will be symmetrical. The period of annularity decreases along a line perpendicular to the central line up to black line (south limit). Observers where north side of the black line (south limit) can observer the annular eclipse (shaded area) while the south of the black line it occurs as a partial solar eclipse.
On the central line, maximum eclipse can be observed with a magnitude of 0.959 which is equivalent 85% percent obscuration of the solar disk. This annular eclipse belongs to 141st Saros series and maximum duration of the annularity is 11m 8s at the greatest eclipse in the Indian Ocean.
Best Locations to Observe the Annular Solar Eclipse
| Location |
Lat. |
Long. |
Duration of
annularity |
Mag. |
Sri Lankan Standard Time |
| C1 |
C2 |
Max |
C3 |
C4 |
Jaffna
Fort |
9.7° N |
80.0° E |
10m 09.3s |
0.958 |
11:17:43 |
13:19:34 |
13:24:40 |
13:29:43 |
15:11:17 |
Kanka
santurai |
9.8° N |
80.0° E |
10m 09.0s |
0.958 |
11:18:10 |
13:19:56 |
13:25:01 |
13:30:05 |
15:11:31 |
Thalai
mannar |
9.1° N |
79.7° E |
09m 58.9s |
0.950 |
11:15:40 |
13:17:59 |
13:22:59 |
13:27:58 |
15:10:13 |
| Kalpitiya |
8.2° N |
79.7° E |
07m 41.0s |
0.932 |
11:14:00 |
13:17:39 |
13:21:30 |
13:25:20 |
15:09:04 |
Anur
adhapura |
8.3° N |
80.4° E |
04m 17.0s |
0.922 |
11:16:25 |
13:21:10 |
13:23:18 |
13:25:27 |
15:10:00 |
Ana
maduwa |
7.9° N |
80.0° E |
02m50.7s |
0.919 |
11:14:22 |
13:20:14 |
13:21:39 |
13:23:05 |
14:08:58 |
| Eppawala |
8.1° N |
80.4° E |
00m14.1s |
0.918 |
11:16:16 |
13:23:02 |
13:23:09 |
13:23:17 |
15:09:50 |
Selected Locations for Partial Solar Eclipse
Location |
Lat. |
Long. |
Magnitude |
Sri Lankan Standard Time |
C1 |
Maximum |
C4 |
Arthur C Clarke
Institute |
6.8° N |
79.9° E |
0.898 |
11:12:02 |
13:19:28 |
15:07:16 |
Peradeniya University |
7.3° N |
80.6° E |
0.895 |
11:12:20 |
13:12:06 |
13:08:49 |
Galle |
6.0° N |
80.2° E |
0.876 |
11:11:51 |
13:18:56 |
15:06:29 |
Eclipse Type: A – Annular Eclipse P – Partial Eclipse
C1 – Start of partial eclipse
C2 – Start of annular eclipse
C3 – End of annular eclipse
C4 – End of partial eclipse 
More Information
Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies: 011 2651566
Web Site: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2010Jan15Agoogle2.html
Last updated on 2010-01-04 |
